What is cloud seeding and its method?

Class24 Nov-09-2023

In recent days, Delhi NCR air pollution reached to 700+ AQI, which fall in the severe plus category, due to such a high AQI, it is become very difficult to take breathe. Stubble burning become a major cause of air pollution in Delhi NCR. So keeping in the mind, the Delhi government has raised the concern and planned to ‘cloud seeding’ over the Delhi NCR region to curb air pollution. For this, the Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, and LG of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena have met with the delegations of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and IIT Kanpur to mitigate air pollution. In this article, we will discuss what is cloud seeding and its method.

What is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding, also known as artificial rain, is a weather modification technique.
This scientific technique is used to induce precipitation by enhancing the formation of raindrops in clouds.
This process is done by introducing certain substances (silver iodide or potassium iodide) into the clouds.
These substances act as cloud condensation or ice nuclei.
The above-mentioned substances promote the coalescence of water droplets in the cloud, leading to the formation of rain or snow.

How Cloud seeding can help to mitigate air pollution?

There are several ways, in which Cloud seeding can help to mitigate air pollution, which are as follows:

1. Clearing the atmosphere

2. Reduction of airborne pollutants

3. Mitigating smog and haze

4. Controlling forest fires

5. Agricultural benefits

The detailed discussion is as follow:

1. Clearing the atmosphere:

The Cloud seeding, or say, Artificial Rain, induced raifall, which can help to remove the particulate matter (PM) and pollutants from the air. Airborne particles captured by raindrops and wash them out of the atmosphere, which lead to cleaner air.

2. Reduction of airborne pollutants:

Cloud seeding also help in reducing the concentration of pollutants (dust, smoke, and chemicals) by washing them out of the atmosphere and depositing them on the ground.

3. Mitigating smog and haze:

This technique also scatters smog and haze, which makes the air clearer and more breathable and will also leave a positive impact on air quality in urban areas.

4. Controlling forest fires:

In wildfires-prone areas, this technique can be used to produce rainfall and help put out fires, which prevents the release of smoke and pollutants into the atmosphere.

5. Agricultural benefits:

In agriculture, this technique also provides much-needed moisture for crops. It can help mitigate the use of irrigation water.

What are the methods of Cloud seeding?

There are following methods of cloud seeding, which are mentioned below:

1. Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding:

Under this method, salts will be scattered through flares or explosives in the lower portions of clouds. Later, as the size of salt grows water joins with them.

2. Static Cloud Seeding:

Under this method of cloud seeding, chemicals like silver iodide scattered into clouds, which provided a crystal around which moisture can condense. As moisture is already available in the clouds, but silver iodide (chemical) makes rain clouds more effective in passing out their water.

3. Dynamic Cloud Seeding:

This technique aims to enhance the vertical air currents, boost more water to pass through the clouds, and convert them into more rain. This method is more complex than static cloud seeding as it depends on a sequence of events working properly.

Applications of Cloud Seeding:

The cloud seeding method can be used in various ways such as:

1. Agriculture

2. Power Generation

3. Water Pollution Control

4. Fog Dispersal, Hail Suppression, and Cyclone Modification

5. Tackle Air Pollution

6. Tourism

What are the Challenges involved in Cloud Seeding?

1. Potential Side-effects

This technique can be potentially harmful to plants, animals, people, and the environment.

2. Abnormal Weather Patterns

Through this technique abnormal weather patterns form, which ultimately leads to changes in climatic patterns.

3. Costly

This process is a bit costly, as the scattering of chemicals into the clouds requires an airplane, which leads to high costs.

FAQs:

The frequent asked questions are as follow:

1. What is Cloud Seeding?
Ans: It is a weather modification technique, which is used to induce precipitation by enhancing the formation of raindrops in clouds.

2. What is the other name of Cloud Seeding?
Ans: Cloud Seeding is also known as Artificial Rain.

3. Which chemical substance has used for cloud seeding?
Ans: This process is done by introducing certain substances (silver iodide or potassium iodide) into the clouds.

4. How can Cloud seeding be helpful to reduce air pollution?
Ans: There are several ways, in which Cloud seeding can help to mitigate air pollution, which are as follows: Clearing the atmosphere, Reduction of airborne pollutants, Mitigating smog and haze, Controlling forest fires, and Agricultural benefits

5. What methods can be used for cloud seeding technology?
Ans: There are following methods of cloud seeding, which are Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding, Static Cloud Seeding, and Dynamic Cloud Seeding

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