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Are rains in UAE caused by cloud seeding? NCM responds

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rains, could seeding, heavy rainfall

Dubai - The country has been seeing rains more frequently over the years during this period.

By By Sarwat Nasir

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Published: Thu 21 Nov 2019, 6:22 AM

Last updated: Thu 21 Nov 2019, 3:58 PM

The heavy rainfall and strong winds across the UAE is a "normal weather pattern" for this time of the year as winter approaches, officials have said.
The country has been seeing rains more frequently over the years during this period and cloud seeding experts take full advantage of the increased cloud formations to enhance rainfall. During the daytime of Wednesday, a total of nine cloud seeding operations were carried out by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) to enhance the rainfall.
An official from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment told Khaleej Times: "While climate change is a major cause of catastrophic changes in weather and other patterns, it's not out of space to see weather like this at this time of year."
A spokesperson from the NCM told KT that it is "the season of rain, which is coming from the Mediterranean Sea".
Pilots were also on standby at the Al Ain Airport last night and waited for the go ahead if more clouds, in the appropriate life stage, were spotted.
The cloud seeding team carried out 181 cloud seeding flights from the beginning of the year until November 11. Several more flights were carried out after that, enhancing the rainfall which poured across the UAE two weeks ago.

Speaking about the current cloud seeding operations, a spokesperson from NCM said: "All of our operations were all over the UAE, especially in the west end and northern parts. The northern parts had a huge quantity of rain falling over UAE.

"There is possibility of more flights at night and depends on the cloud formations. Once we find proper clouds, we'll proceed with the flights.  

"The winds that are happening are natural, all we do is enhance the rainfall by increasing the water in the cloud. The occurrence of the winds is called the downdraft. We proceed with cloud seeding when there is an updraft, which starts when there is a formation of cloud."

The cloud seeding flight pilots shoot salt particles in updraft clouds, helping the particle to get sucked in and mixed with the rain droplets already present in the cloud. Then, the drops increase in size.

sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
 


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