UAE is using drones to zap clouds and create rain

• The World Bank predicted last month that temperatures in the UAE would rise a further 2.4⁰ C in the next 40 years

• It added that the UAE has already seen average temperatures rise 1.5⁰ C over the past 60 years

The United Arab Emirates is making rainfall using drone technology to hit clouds with electricity to combat high temperatures, said local reports on Thursday, July 22.

This comes amid soaring mercury in the gulf country, with the World Bank predicting that temperatures in the country would rise a further 2.4⁰ C in the next 40 years.

The World Bank, in its estimate, said earlier this month that the UAE has already seen average temperatures rise 1.5⁰ C over the past 60 years.

Now, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are among the several cities that are benefiting from cloud-seeding performed by the UAE’s National Center of Meteorology, said the local reports.

The NCM is apparently achieving this by getting the drones to fly into clouds and releasing electric charges.

This helps water droplets coalesce and form precipitation, said the reports. Here is a video of the resulting rain:

 

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The UAE usually sees less than 100 mm of rainfall a year.

The local reports said the NCM has conducted 126 cloud-seeding drone flights since the beginning of 2021.

These include 14 flights since last Tuesday. Most of these flights are two to three hours in duration, said the reports.