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Delhi Exploring Artificial Rain: Delhi’s Environment Minister is exploring cloud seeding to combat air pollution.
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Cloud Seeding Explained: Cloud seeding enhances rainfall by dispersing chemicals into clouds, encouraging raindrop formation. Silver iodide, potassium iodide, and dry ice are commonly used.
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How it Works: Chemicals act as condensation nuclei for water vapour, forming larger droplets that fall as rain. This depends on atmospheric conditions.
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Cloud Seeding Types: Hygroscopic seeding accelerates droplet merging in liquid clouds; glaciogenic seeding introduces ice-forming agents into supercooled clouds.
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Alternative Technologies: Static artificial rain-inducing systems use natural ionization. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) reflects sunlight to reduce smog.
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Previous IIT-Kanpur Trials: IIT-Kanpur scientists have conducted cloud seeding trials, with some success in monsoon months. Trials in 2018 had 5 successful runs out of 6.
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Collaboration & Permissions: The Minister is seeking cooperation from government agencies for permissions to conduct cloud seeding in Delhi.
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Fighting Air Pollution: Delhi is committed to using all necessary solutions to combat air pollution, including artificial rain.
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Reviewing Other Measures: The meeting also reviewed a static artificial rain-inducing system.
