Artificial Rains

Delhi Exploring Artificial Rain: Delhi’s Environment Minister is exploring cloud seeding to combat air pollution.

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.

How it Works: Chemicals act as condensation nuclei for water vapour, forming larger droplets that fall as rain. This depends on atmospheric conditions.

Cloud Seeding Types: Hygroscopic seeding accelerates droplet merging in liquid clouds; glaciogenic seeding introduces ice-forming agents into supercooled clouds.

Alternative Technologies: Static artificial rain-inducing systems use natural ionization. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) reflects sunlight to reduce smog.

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.

Collaboration & Permissions: The Minister is seeking cooperation from government agencies for permissions to conduct cloud seeding in Delhi.

Fighting Air Pollution: Delhi is committed to using all necessary solutions to combat air pollution, including artificial rain.

Reviewing Other Measures: The meeting also reviewed a static artificial rain-inducing system.