ABU DHABI, Feb 25(Alliance News): Scientists and experts are exploring artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance rainfall in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s driest regions.
At the International Rain Enhancement Forum in Abu Dhabi, officials unveiled an AI-powered system aimed at improving cloud seeding, a technique used to induce rainfall.
Luca Delle Monache, a senior researcher at the University of California San Diego, stated that the project is in its final stages, though he acknowledged that AI is not a “silver bullet.”
Cloud seeding, which involves dispersing salt or other chemicals into clouds to stimulate rain, is estimated to boost precipitation by 10-15%. However, it requires specific cloud conditions and precise timing.
The AI system, funded with $1.5 million, analyzes satellite, radar, and weather data to predict where suitable clouds will form within six hours, improving the efficiency of cloud-seeding flights.
Despite these efforts, rainfall in the UAE remains scarce, averaging just 100 millimeters annually. The country relies primarily on desalinated water, producing about 14% of the world’s total supply. Groundwater, replenished by rain, is also essential for agriculture and industry.
While UAE officials report an increase in rainfall due to cloud seeding, rain remains a rare phenomenon, often celebrated by schoolchildren. The country even features attractions like Dubai’s “Raining Street,” where visitors pay to experience artificial drizzle.
Though prayers for rain are a longstanding tradition among Gulf rulers, the UAE experienced an extreme exception last April when record-breaking rainfall caused widespread flooding, shutting down Dubai’s airport and major roads.
