UAE uses AI to increase rainfall

The United Arab Emirates has conducted hundreds of cloud seeding operations across the country to increase rainfall and address water shortages in 2024. Now, the Emirates is also using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the effectiveness of the advanced technology.

The country’s authorities are investing heavily in innovations to ensure water supply, which can increase rainfall by at least 15 per cent annually.

On Tuesday, senior officials at the National Meteorological Centre (NCM) in Abu Dhabi explained that artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in optimising cloud seeding operations and improving decision-making for more efficient and targeted rainfall increases.

NCM Deputy CEO, highlighted that with the help of AI algorithms, meteorologists analyse huge amounts of real-time weather data, which enables them to predict the best time and place for cloud seeding.

AI improves the accuracy of meteorological models by providing valuable insights into cloud formation and behaviour, increasing the chances of successful seeding.

Sensor-equipped drones are also part of this strategy. They can release seed directly into clouds with greater accuracy than traditional methods.

However, experts say that unmanned cloud seeding, while on the horizon, still needs further development to interpret complex weather conditions with the same accuracy as human pilots.

The country’s cloud seeding efforts have already yielded between 84 million and 419 million cubic metres of water. This is a significant portion of the estimated 6.7 billion cubic metres of rainfall the UAE receives annually. Each flying hour of cloud seeding work costs about 29,000 dirhams (US$ 8,000).

Source: Khaleej Times