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Mahesh

29/10/23 07:37 AM IST

IITM Pune demonstrates cloud seeding can produce rainfall

In News
  • A cloud seeding experiment carried out in Solapur city, which falls on the leeward side of the Western Ghats and hence gets low rainfall — 384 mm and 422 mm of total rainfall during the period June to September 2018 and 2019, respectively — was able to achieve 18% relative enhancement in rainfall.
CAIPEEX phase-4
  • The experiment — Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX phase-4) — was a scientific investigation conducted in Solapur city during the summer monsoon period of 2018 and 2019.
  • The primary objective was to investigate the efficacy of hygroscopic seeding in deep convective clouds and to develop a cloud seeding protocol.
  • The experiment used two aircraft for studying various cloud parameters and for seeding the clouds.
  • The study found that cloud seeding is an effective strategy for enhancing rainfall in a region under suitable conditions.
  • In total 276 convective clouds were chosen, and 150 were seeded while the remaining 122 clouds were not seeded.
  • Based on several criteria we know if a convective cloud has a potential to rain as all clouds cannot rain.
  • Convective clouds with a depth of over one kilometre and likely to evolve into deep cumulus clouds were targeted.
Process of cloud seeding
  • Calcium chloride flare was used for seeding the clouds.
  • A cloud seeding flare releases these particles when triggered.
  • The seeding was done at the base of the warm convective clouds and at a time when the clouds were in their growing stage so that the seed particles could enter the clouds with minimum dispersion.
  • The convective cloud bases are found at 500-1,500 metres altitude during the summer monsoon period and around 2,000 metres or more altitude during the monsoon break periods, which depends on the moisture content in the lower atmosphere.
  • Since the clouds are found at lower heights, the base of the convective clouds is warm, around 15 degrees C.
  • But cloud seeding alone cannot mitigate droughts but can help produce 18% more rainfall and partially address water requirements.
  • One of the most important findings of the study was that not all cumulus clouds produce rainfall when cloud seeding is done.
  • We found 20-25% of cumulus clouds produce rainfall if cloud seeding is done correctly.
Source- The Hindu

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