How Dubai Is Using Laser Drones To Shock Rainwater Out Of The Sky

Artist depiction of cloud seeding dronesSmart Cities World Forum

The United Arab Emirates have been hit particularly hard by this season’s sweltering heat, recording a 51.8°C this June (that’s over 125° Fahrenheit for the Americans in the room). What’s worse, Dubai receives a paltry 4-inches of rainfall annually, making summers unbearable and agriculture nearly impossible (the country imports more than 80% of its food). As people do their best to stay inside, cool, and hydrated, experts at the country’s National Center of Meteorology have introduced a novel technology to make a world of difference: using drones to force precipitation via laser beams.

The science is called cloud seeding, and it has existed in various forms for several decades. Adding certain substances or chemicals, such as silver iodide, to existing clouds can induce rain or snow. You might recall stories of efforts by China to ensure clear skies before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, or an accident where Russia mistakenly dropped a very much non-powderized block of cement onto some poor Muscovite home. 

Given that the byproducts of these weather altering missions will quite literally be raining down on people’s heads, crops, and drinking water, there are significant safety concerns surround cloud seeding. Some fear that accumulated particles might linger, eventually proving carcinogenic to humans or harmful to the local environment.

The UAE have invested more than $15 million on 9 ‘rain enhancement projects’ over the years, the first 8 of which used traditional cloud seeding methods. But the country is now taking a different approach in their quest for water security. Rather than dispersing particulates as done in traditional cloud seeding, the Emirati Weather Center is using drones to ‘zap’ the air into submission. These drones are designed to target certain clouds and use electrical discharges via concentrated lasers to forcibly pool water droplets in the air, thus triggering desired rainfall. With the equivalent of an atmospheric cattle prod, Dubai has achieved just that — depicted in several videos posted to Instagram —  electrocuting the air into rain.

The question is whether the rest of the world will follow their example. The traditional form of cloud seeding is already used in the U.S. by eight western states, particularly in the Upper Colorado River Basin. There are companies like Weather Modification Inc. claiming expertise in using silver iodide to trigger heavier rainfall or snow. Until recently — and even now, to some extent — determining the efficacy of such projects has been difficult.

If a fleet of drones can address a drought in a viable, cost-effective manner, it would be a mistake to write off potentially world-changing benefits. That said, such gains are not reason to fully throw caution to the wind with powerful technology. The risks of induced rain are less obvious to laymen than the risks of Bill Gates plotting to dim the sun, but some experts are worried that the process could inadvertently trigger flooding. A discussion might be warranted on private weather drone ownership, if inclement weather can result from an attempt to force a snow day.

More troublesome though is a threat which will remain even should the process be proven entirely risk-free. Water security is a priority for every country. Without water, there is no life, no agriculture, and no country. Wars have been and are being fought over water access. The Horn of Africa is boiling over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and control of the Nile, a river which has brought both prosperity and conflict to the region for millennia. Egypt and Sudan are threatening war against Ethiopia over the dam’s potential to deprive downstream states of water, although thus far they have they have expressed hopes for “preventive diplomacy” averting a true conflict. Whether tensions escalate or subside will depend largely on international pressure.

On the other end of the Persian Gulf from the UAE, the heat has triggered a severe drought in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan region, with the government violently repressing desperate protesters. If cloud seeding becomes more mainstream,  it is easy to imagine the Iranian regime (or other authoritarians) using weather modification as a weapon against internal and external opposition, or blaming a neighbors’ seeding efforts as the source of domestic weather woes.

A hot or thirsty country triggering rainfall to the detriment of their neighbors is arguably taking what’s not theirs. The jurisdiction over not yet fallen rain “resources” will be tricky, with no applicable international law regulating the issue directly. The geopolitical implications would become more troubling as calls for restitution are likely to escalate. If controlling the weather is a luxury of the powerful and wealthy, water access may become a tool of pressure or a trigger of conflict. A four decades-old UN convention bans “hostile use of environmental modification techniques,” for what that is worth, and international outcry is likely should a country seek to inflict an endless dry season upon their opponents.

Still, the settling of claims and conflicts over “stolen” rain will be a new and problematic form of dispute for the world particularly if the summers are likely to remain as hot as this one.

Artificial rain explained: Are Dubai’s drone powered clouds a silver lining for future?

Artificial rain explained: Are Dubai’s drone-powered clouds a silver lining for future?

Using electrical charges discharged from the drones, UAE scientists created large water droplets that resulted in the formation of large clouds and then welcome rain.

Faced with the increasing frequency of heatwaves and diminishing water sources, scientists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken matters into their own hands. They have managed to create torrential downpours using a fleet of drones.

Ras al Khaimah and other regions saw rainfall which was created artificially through a new take on the technology of cloud seeding.

Here is all you need to know about Dubai’s artificial rains.

What is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is a process in which certain changes are made in the weather which result in rain or snow. Cloud seeding is not a new technology, having been first successfully attempted in 1923 by W.D. Bancroft.

The most common way of seeing clouds is to introduce certain chemicals in and around already existing clouds. These chemicals increase the rate of condensation through chemical processes or by providing crystalline ice nuclei around which water droplets can form and accumulate.

These salts and chemicals can be introduced either through aeroplanes, rockets or even ground generators.

While the effectiveness of cloud seeding is somewhat contentious, the results are very obvious. Cloud seeding results in the formation of clouds that cause rainfall, or snowfall, where these clouds previously would not have been heavy or low enough to do so.

Harmful Impact

However, some scientists and environmental activists have also raised concerns over the use of chemicals and salts that may be harmful to the environment in the creation of clouds. Doubts remain over whether creating artificial precipitation in one area would affect nearby areas.

Experiments in UAE

Scientists from the meteorological department in the UAE used a new form of cloud seeding technology. Instead of relying on chemicals, the scientists used electrical charges. These electrical charges forced water droplets to combine into larger ones, which allowed the water droplets to hit the ground instead of evaporating.

The technology is also perfect for being tested in the UAE. Cloud seeding, as the name implies, requires the presence of clouds in order to create precipitation. While UAE is an arid country, moisture and evaporation from the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea create a heavy cloud cover over the country.

The electrical charges are delivered by a fleet of drones that fly up to the cloud cover and excite the water molecules present there. Over 126 cloud seeding flights were conducted by the UAE National Centre of Meteorology since the start of the year.

The technology is based on the same one that scientists from the University of Reading, UK, had studied and researched.

"Our project is about changing the balance of charges on the tiniest cloud droplets, a neglected aspect of clouds which could revolutionise our ability to manipulate rainfall in areas that need it most," said Professor Giles Harrison, of the University of Reading

Rain on Demand?

If successful, this technology presents a way for numerous water scare areas to essentially create rain on demand. New cloud seeding technology can potentially reduce water scarcity in numerous areas that do not receive adequate rainfall, preventing drought conditions and saving thousands of lives in the process.

The technology can also be used to create rain that would then replenish underground aquifers, lakes, rivers and other freshwater sources. Besides UAE, countries like India and China are already experimenting with other cloud seeding technologies for arid regions to prevent large scale droughts.

Faced with the increasing urgency of climate change, such technologies will continue to develop to help human civilisation adapt to the increased ecological pressures.

Expo 2020 Dubai: Pakistan to showcase hidden treasures at its pavilion

Facade of the pavilion is designed by internationally renowned artist Rashid Rana

Visitors to the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be in for a visual treat. It promises to leave a lasting impression by offering them one-of-a-kind virtual experiences through immersive and engaging hybrid art installations, and a colourful and attractive façade.

The facade of the pavilion is designed by Rashid Rana, an internationally renowned artist, who's work is displayed in the important public collections at the British Museum. He is known for surprising his audience with his innovative visual strategies each time he undertakes a new project.

"For the conceptualisation and design of the facade, we drew inspiration from the changing seasons experienced by the country," explained Rana.

“To begin with, the façade is designed to attract and invite people inside and discover the hidden treasures of Pakistan such as its breathtaking landscapes, cultural and religious diversity, colourful traditions. The vivid colours of the façade are also a reflection of the beautiful changing seasons the country experiences, one of the most diverse on Earth. This design for the Pakistan pavilion will remind visitors of the vivid colours of a painting, the slickness of design all come together to enhance the architecture – a truly hybrid work of creative practice,” he added.

This beautiful and engaging façade has the potential to be a top ‘selfie’ and art spot for visitors, he added.

The variety of experiences offered at the pavilion will include video, tactile immersions, sonic rhythms and interactive installations that have been designed to inspire, engage and captivate.

Many interesting details about the hidden treasures inside the pavilion were also revealed by Noor Jehan Bilgrami, another top Pakistani artist, who is also the principal art curator at the pavilion.

“The Pakistan Pavilion is designed to inform, inspire and ignite a conversation that leaves a lasting impact. Its narrative reflects the poetic way in which the past, present, and future are woven together as a tapestry that reveal its rich and layered history, culture and traditions, as well as the potential and possibilities it holds for the future. The Pakistan pavilion creates an immersive, multi-sensory experience, which will take its visitors on a journey through time showcasing its ancient history, ethno-religious diversity, rich cultural traditions, natural resources, and economic potential that they can further explore,” Bilgrami said.

Talking about the pavilion's theme, which is ‘hidden treasure’, Bilgrami said the aim is to highlight the “unique or little-known aspects of the country”.

“While each section will feel unique by virtue of the subject it showcases, they come together as a cohesive whole in an unforgettable journey for visitors,” she added.

The pavilion will be divided into eight key spaces where visitors will experience the country's best-kept hidden treasures. It will also feature a custom-made Pakistani cuisine restaurant called “The Dhaaba” (food court) that will feature the country’s authentic, centuries-old cuisine for global audiences. It will also offer indigenous dishes from each region.

A souvenir shop with art and craft works unique to Pakistan will also be part of the pavilion to allow visitors to take home a bit of Pakistani culture from its array of cultural memorabilia available.

Throughout the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai that will be held from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, the pavilion will also host several entertainment and business events.

Hidden treasures to be showcased at Pakistan pavilion:

>> Pakistan’s advancements in agriculture and industries, its world-renowned natural resources and the extraordinary achievements of Pakistani women and youth.

>> The country’s leading efforts in climate and sustainability initiatives.

>> Stunning topography that makes Pakistan a premier destination for tourists from around the world.

>> Rich culture and history that spans over 7,000 years to one of the world’s earliest civilisations.

>> Diverse spiritual traditions that have co-existed peacefully and enriched one another through mutual exchange over centuries.

>> Its vibrant craft traditions that are a testament to the artistry and skill of the people of the country.

>> A bazaar offering beautifully designed and packaged craft products from all regions of Pakistan.