CLOUD SEEDING
- Cloud seeding is a kind of a weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall
- It works only when there is enough pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere.
- Rain happens when moisture in the air reaches levels at which it can no longer be held, and cloud seeding aims to facilitate and accelerate that process by making available chemical ‘nuclei’ around which condensation can take place
- These ‘seeds’ of rain can be the iodides of silver or potassium, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), or liquid propane.
- The seeds can be delivered by plane or simply by spraying from the ground.
Cloud seeding has been employed for various applications, primarily aimed at enhancing precipitation and managing water resources. Here are some of the key applications of cloud seeding:
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Precipitation Enhancement: The primary application of cloud seeding is to stimulate the formation of rain or snow in clouds to increase precipitation. This is particularly useful in regions experiencing water scarcity or drought conditions. By enhancing precipitation, cloud seeding can augment water supplies for agricultural, domestic, and industrial purposes.
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Drought Mitigation: During periods of drought, cloud seeding can be used as a strategic tool to help alleviate water shortages and support ecosystems that rely on adequate water availability. It aims to enhance rainfall in drought-affected regions and replenish water reservoirs.
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Water Resource Management: Cloud seeding is used as part of water resource management strategies to optimize water availability for human consumption, irrigation, and hydropower generation. By increasing precipitation, water levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs can be improved.
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Snowpack Augmentation: In regions that heavily rely on snowmelt for water supply, cloud seeding can be applied to increase snowfall in mountainous areas. This helps in building up the snowpack during winter, which later melts and feeds downstream water sources during the warmer months.
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Hail Suppression: Cloud seeding is also utilized for hail suppression, particularly in areas prone to damaging hailstorms. By seeding clouds with appropriate materials, it is believed that the formation of large hailstones can be mitigated or reduced in size, thus minimizing potential damage to crops and property.
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Wildfire Prevention: In some cases, cloud seeding has been explored as a potential tool for wildfire prevention. By inducing precipitation over vulnerable areas, the aim is to reduce the risk of wildfires and their potential impact on ecosystems and human communities.
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Weather Research and Science: Cloud seeding is not only used for practical applications but also plays a role in weather research and scientific studies. Studying the effects of cloud seeding can provide insights into cloud and precipitation processes, aiding meteorological research.
Cloud seeding, like any weather modification technique, comes with several challenges and limitations. Some of the main challenges in cloud seeding include:
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Weather and Atmospheric Conditions: Cloud seeding effectiveness is highly dependent on specific weather and atmospheric conditions. For successful cloud seeding, there must be suitable clouds with sufficient moisture content and updrafts. Predicting the behavior of clouds and atmospheric conditions can be challenging, and not all clouds are amenable to seeding.
- Environmental Concerns: There are ethical and environmental considerations associated with cloud seeding. Introducing seeding agents into the atmosphere raises questions about potential ecological impacts, air quality, and unintended consequences. Ethical concerns also arise about artificially modifying weather patterns and precipitation processes.
- Scientific Complexity: The science behind cloud seeding is complex, and researchers are continually seeking a better understanding of cloud processes and the most effective seeding techniques. Advancing cloud seeding research and addressing knowledge gaps can be a challenge.
- Water Availability and Distribution: Cloud seeding aims to enhance precipitation and increase water resources, but it cannot create water where it doesn't exist. The success of cloud seeding also depends on the availability of adequate water resources to capture and store the increased precipitation. Additionally, ensuring equitable distribution of water resources among different regions can be challenging
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For Prelims: Landslides, Heavy rainfall, Downpour
For Mains: 1.Discuss the concept of cloud seeding as a weather modification technique. What are the different methods of cloud seeding, and how do they aim to enhance precipitation? Examine the challenges and ethical considerations associated with cloud seeding.
2.Cloud seeding has been proposed as a potential solution for managing water resources and mitigating drought conditions. Analyze the effectiveness of cloud seeding in increasing precipitation and its impact on water availability in drought-affected regions. In light of environmental concerns, suggest measures to ensure responsible and sustainable cloud seeding practices
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Previous Year Questions
1.In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere? (UPSC CSE 2019)
(a) Creating the artificial rains in some regions Answer -d |
