The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science

Last updated October 22, 2024

The United Arab Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) is a global research initiative offering a grant of US$5 million over a three-year period to be shared by up to five winning research projects in the field of rain enhancement.

Management of the program

The United Arab Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science is an initiative of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Presidential Affairs and was launched at the beginning of 2015 under the patronage^[2] of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. It is managed by Alya Al Mazroui and overseen by the National Center for Meteorology (United Arab Emirates) ^[3] (NCMS) based in Abu Dhabi.^[4]

Goals of the program

Advance the science, technology and implementation of rain enhancement and encourage additional investments in research funding and research partnerships to advance the field.
Increase rainfall and water security ^[5] globally.

Four pathways have been identified to achieve those goals:

Enhance the level of research and innovation in the field;
Advance scientific understanding of rainfall enhancement;
Advance state-of-the-art rainfall enhancement practices and operations;
Enhance and further develop capacity in the field both locally and globally.

Selection process

The research grant is awarded on a yearly basis. The Program invites innovative research and technology proposals from domestic or foreign, public or private, non-profit or for-profit organizations and, in some cases, individuals.^[6]

All of the proposals selected are subject to five criteria:

Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, Significance and Innovation (30%);
Approach, Project/Delivery Plan, Milestones and Deliverables (20%);
Investigator/Team (20%);
Required/Available Resources and Budget (20%);
Capacity Building (10%).^[7]

Program cycles

The program had the following two cycles.

First cycle

The first cycle of the Program was announced on 20 January 2015. All awardees were selected by a merit review process^[8] and announced in January 2016.^[9] The awarded research projects were selected based on their ability to promote scientific understanding in the field of rain enhancement science and further develop related technologies, applications, and operations, as well as build capacity.

The three prize-awarded scientists leading the research teams that share this cycle's grant of US$5 million are:

Masataka Murakami, Visiting Professor from the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University (Japan). Researchers from the University of Tokyo and the Japan Meteorological Agency also contributed to his research project on innovative algorithms and sensors dedicated to identifying the clouds most suitable for seeding.
Linda Zou , Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (UAE). Prof. Zou has received contribution to her work on nanotechnology to accelerate water condensation from the National University of Singapore and the University of Belgrade. The research explores the different ways of employing current knowledge of nanotechnology to develop novel cloud seeding materials and make rain droplet formation more efficient.
Volker Wulfmeyer , Professor, Managing Director and Chair of Physics and Meteorology at the Institute of Physics and Meteorology in the University of Hohenheim (Germany). His research project deals with cloud seeding optimization, and aims to specifically study convergence zones and land cover modification to enhance precipitation.

In 2015, in total, 325 scientists and researchers affiliated to 151 organizations applied to the Program. These researchers, drawn from 34 countries around the world, cooperated as scientific teams on the submission of a total of 78 pre-proposals.^[10]

Second cycle

Announced on January 19, 2016, the Program received 91 pre-proposals^[11] from 398 scientists, researchers, and technologists affiliated to 180 institutes from 45 nations.^[12] Candidates from 45 countries — including scientists and researchers from 15 new countries such as Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sweden, and Turkey, sent proposals to the Program.

After a month-long initial review process, 15 pre-proposals have been shortlisted.^[13]

on 17 January 2017 The Second Cycle awardees were selected due to their innovative technologies, applications, and operations towards the scientific understanding in the field of rain enhancement science. The awarded scientists include ^[14]^[15]

Paul Lawson
Hannele Korhonen
Giles Harrison

Third cycle

The awardees of the Third Cycle of the Program were announced on 17 January 2018, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).^[16] The awarded research projects were led by researchers from Russia, USA and China. Selected from a highly competitive field, the awarded projects featured a range of innovative new scientific and technological approaches to rain enhancement.

The three prize-awarded scientists leading the research teams that share the Third Cycle's grant of US$5 million are:

Ali Abshaev,^[17] Doctor and Associate Professor at the Hail Suppression Research Center (Russia).^[18] His project seeks to create a new method of rain enhancement by stimulating convection and precipitation by using the energy of solar radiation. Preliminary studies using 3D models have demonstrated that artificial updraft can be created by heating up layers of the surrounding atmosphere, ultimately reaching condensation height.
Eric W. Frew,^[19] an associate professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department and Director of the Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles at the University of Colorado Boulder (USA). His project involves an innovative approach towards the enhancement of precipitation based on the use of in-situ real time data to sense, target and implement cloud seeding with auto drones.^[20]
Lulin Xue,^[21] Chief Scientist of Hua Xin Chuang Zhi Science and Technology LLC (China). The core objectives of his proposed study are to improve knowledge of hygroscopic seeding impacts on the warm rain initiation and quantify the potential seeding impact and uncertainties on UAE rainfall in a 10-year period.^[22]

Reflecting the Program's outstanding success and growing international status as a hub for rain enhancement research, the Third Cycle call for research proposals led to 201 pre-proposal submissions being received, representing 710 scientists and researchers affiliated to 316 institutions spread across 68 countries on five continents.^[23]

Cloud seeding in the UAE

Cloud seeding in the United Arab Emirates is a weather modification technique used by the government to address water challenges in the country. Cloud seeding is also referred to as man made precipitation and artificial rain making.^[24] The United Arab Emirates is one of the first countries in the Persian Gulf region to use cloud seeding technology. UAE scientists use cloud seeding technology to supplement the country's water insecurity, which stems from the extremely hot climate.^[25] They use weather radars to continuously monitor the atmosphere of the country.^[26] Forecasters and scientists have estimated that cloud seeding operations can enhance rainfall by as much as 30-35% percent in a clear atmosphere, and up to 10-15% in a more humid atmosphere.^[27] This practice has caused concerns regarding the impact on the environment because it is difficult to predict its long-term global implications.^[28]

Related Research Articles

The United Arab Emirates is situated in the Middle East and West Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is at a strategic location along the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. The UAE lies between 22°50′ and 26° north latitude and between 51° and 56°25′ east longitude. It shares a 19 km (12 mi) border with Qatar on the northwest, a 530 km (330 mi) border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and southeast, and a 450 km (280 mi) border with Oman on the southeast and northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weather modification</span> Act of intentionally altering or manipulating the weather

Weather modification is the act of intentionally manipulating or altering the weather. The most common form of weather modification is cloud seeding, which increases rainfall or snowfall, usually for the purpose of increasing the local water supply. Weather modification can also have the goal of preventing damaging weather, such as hail or hurricanes, from occurring; or of provoking damaging weather against an enemy, as a tactic of military or economic warfare like Operation Popeye, where clouds were seeded to prolong the monsoon in Vietnam. Weather modification in warfare has been banned by the United Nations under the Environmental Modification Convention.

Cloud seeding is a type of weather modification that aims to change the amount or type of precipitation, mitigate hail or disperse fog. The usual objective is to increase rain or snow, either for its own sake or to prevent precipitation from occurring in days afterward.

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) (Arabic: جامعة الإمارات العربية المتحدة) is a public research university located in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Founded in 1976 by the country's first President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, it is the oldest university in the United Arab Emirates and offers courses in various subjects up to post-graduation.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest emirate, accounting for 87% of the nation's total land area or 67,340 km² (26,000 sq mi).

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the field of Meteorology.

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi was a private, higher-education and research institute active from 2007-2017. In 2017, it merged with two other institutions in Abu Dhabi, Petroleum Institute and Khalifa University, to become the multi-campus, sole-branded Khalifa University. Its previous structure, now part of Khalifa University, is now known as the "Masdar City campus".

Provision of education in the UAE began shortly after the establishment of the federation with the inception of the first university, the United Arab Emirates University, located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Since then, the country has progressed with efforts of ensuring high literacy rates, modern programs and women's share in education. It works on improving its youth's education which is why the agenda 2021 has been set. The UAE currently devotes approximately 16 percent of total federal government spending to education. In 2019, the overall literacy rate was 96%, and in the year 2022, the literacy rate increased to 98.29.

Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's second-most populous city, after Dubai. The city is situated on a T-shaped island, extending into the Gulf from the central-western coast of the UAE.

Dubai features a tropical desert, hot arid climate. Dubai has two seasons – winter and summer. Rainfall has been increasing over the past few decades in the city accumulating to more than 130 mm (5.12 in) per year.

The National Library And Archives (NLA) is a leading research and archival institution based in Abu Dhabi charged with preserving and documenting the history and heritage of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf region in general. The NLA was established in 1968 by Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, first President of the UAE, under the name of Center for Documentation and Research (CDR). Forty years later, the late UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued Law No. (7) for 2008 designating the Center as the official National Archives of the UAE, under the name National Center for Documentation and Research (NCDR). The law specifies the NCDR jurisdiction to collect, preserve and archive documents to promote cultural and historical awareness and provide researchers access to the valuable materials held by the Center. In 2014, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the federal law no. (1) of 2014, changing the name to National Archives.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center "MBRSC is a Dubai Government organisation, working on the UAE space program which includes various space satellites projects, such as the Emirates Mars Mission, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the UAE astronaut program. The center actively works to promote space science and research in the region and encompasses the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).

The UAE Space Agency (UAESA) is the space agency of the United Arab Emirates government responsible for the development of the country's space industry. It was created in 2014 and is responsible for developing and regulating the space sector in the UAE.

Environmental issues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are caused by the exploitation of natural resources, rapid population growth, and high energy demand. The continuing temperature rise caused by global warming contributes to UAE's water scarcity, drought, rising sea level, and aridity. The UAE has a hot desert climate, which is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change and contributes to worsening water scarcity, quality, and water contamination.

Robert A. Houze, Jr., is an American atmospheric scientist, researcher, author, and Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington where he led a research team known as the Mesoscale Group for 46 years. He and his group participated in international field projects around the world and global satellite programs employing weather radar and aircraft in the tropics and midlatitudes, in projects sponsored by NSF, NASA, DOE, and NOAA. Houze has been on the science teams for three NASA satellites for the global study of clouds and precipitation. The predominant areas of his research are tropical convective clouds, extreme storms, flooding in the Asian Monsoon, tropical cyclones, and midlatitude frontal systems in mountainous regions.

Cloud seeding in the United Arab Emirates is a weather modification technique used by the government to address water challenges in the country. Cloud seeding is also referred to as man made precipitation and artificial rain making. The United Arab Emirates is one of the first countries in the Persian Gulf region to use cloud seeding technology. UAE scientists use cloud seeding technology to supplement the country's water insecurity, which stems from the extremely hot climate. They use weather radars to continuously monitor the atmosphere of the country. Forecasters and scientists have estimated that cloud seeding operations can enhance rainfall by as much as 30-35% percent in a clear atmosphere, and up to 10-15% in a more humid atmosphere. This practice has caused concerns regarding the impact on the environment because it is difficult to predict its long-term global implications.

Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous is the current President of WMO. Al Mandous was elected as WMO president for a four-year term from 2023 to 2027 by the representatives of WMO's 193 member states and territories which convened in Geneva for the body's 19th annual congress from 22 May to 2 June 2023. Al Mandous is also Director General of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the government entity that provides meteorological and seismological services and statistical data and information to various entities and the public in the United Arab Emirates to carry out their daily functions.

In April 2024, heavy rain severely impacted states in the Persian Gulf, causing flash flooding across the region. Several states recorded nearly a year's worth of rain in a single day. The floods had a significant impact across the region, with Oman and the United Arab Emirates being particularly affected, resulting in the deaths of at least 46 people, including 20 in Oman, and 18 in Iran. Yemen, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia also experienced heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding.

On 16 April 2024, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, affected cities of mainly Dubai and Sharjah, the northern Emirates, and various areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. According to the National Center for Meteorology, this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years. The floods in the Emirates were a part of the greater Persian Gulf floods.

The National Center for Meteorology is the national meteorological research and forecasting organization of United Arab Emirates, working under the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates. The center was established in March 2007. The center is tasked with weather forecasting, issuing early warnings, and collaborating with other international meteorology institutions to employ the latest technologies. In addition to its meteorological services, the center is responsible for cloud seeding to increase the rate of precipitation in United Arab Emirates.

References

↑ "UAE mulls cloud seeding to enhance rainfall". Gulf News. March 29, 2007.
↑ "WAM - Emirates News Agency, Mansour bin Zayed stresses UAE's leadership in embracing scientific research as key pillar of country's innovation strategy". WAM. 2016-04-19. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23.
↑ "Cloud Seeding, Studies and Assessment". National Center of Meteorology and Seismology. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05.
↑ "Cloud Seeding". National Center of Meteorology and Seismology official website. Archived from the original on 2019-02-17.
↑ "Scientists are making it rain in Abu Dhabi". CNN. 30 March 2016.
↑ "Let it rain in UAE: $5m to stimulate rainfall". Emirates 24/7. February 17, 2015.
↑ "UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science committee meet to select 2015 cycle winners". uae interact. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-14.
↑ "UAE rain enhancement programme assesses pre-proposals". Gulf News. 17 May 2015.
↑ "Academic trio with 'heads in the clouds' win $5m UAE rain enhancement research grant". The National. 19 January 2016.
↑ "Hundreds of scientists apply for UAE research programme to increase rainfall". The National. 12 May 2015.
↑ "UAE research programme for rain enhancement science". World Meteorological Organization. 4 May 2016.
↑ "UAE research programme for rain enhancement science". World Meteorological Organization. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.
↑ "UAE Research Program For Rain Enhancement Science Shortlists Promising Research Projects From Around The World In Second Cycle". Middle East Events. 23 May 2016.
↑ "Research Groups from USA, Finland and UK Announced as Recipients of UAE Rain Enhancement Program's 5 Million Dollar Grant". World Meteorological Organization. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.
↑ "Research Groups From USA, Finland and UK Announced as Recipients of UAE Rain Enhancement Program's 5 Million Dollar Grant". Telegraphindia. Jan 18, 2017.^{[ dead link ]}
↑ "Abu dhabi sustainability week". Abu dhabi sustainability week.
↑ "Ali M. Abshaev". linkedin.
↑ "antigrad".
↑ "Eric W. Frew". Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles. 29 October 2014.
↑ "Eric W. Frew Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department". colorado.
↑ "Lulin Xue". The National Center for Atmospheric Research.
↑ "Research Groups from the USA, China and Russia Announced as Awardees of UAEREP's US$5 Million Grant in its Third Cycle". UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science.
↑ "The UAE has carried out 6 cloud-seeding missions". Gulf news. 9 January 2018.
↑ Farahat, A.; Abuelgasim, A. (2022-02-01). "Effect of cloud seeding on aerosol properties and particulate matter variability in the United Arab Emirates". International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 19 (2): 951–968. doi: 10.1007/s13762-020-03057-5 . ISSN 1735-2630. S2CID 231877327.
↑ Ćurić, Mladjen; Lompar, Miloš; Romanic, Djordje; Zou, Linda; Liang, Haoran (June 2019). "Three-Dimensional Modelling of Precipitation Enhancement by Cloud Seeding in Three Different Climate Zones". Atmosphere. 10 (6): 294. Bibcode:2019Atmos..10..294C. doi: 10.3390/atmos10060294 . ISSN 2073-4433.
↑ Cloud Seeding, National Center of Meteorology & Seismology, United Arab Emirates
↑ "UAE's Rain Enhancement Program Addresses Key Technical Challenges". Water Online. 22 April 2015.
↑ "Is the UAE Really Making It Rain by Seeding Clouds?". www.vice.com. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "UAE mulls cloud seeding to enhance rainfall". Gulf News. March 29, 2007.

[2] "WAM - Emirates News Agency, Mansour bin Zayed stresses UAE's leadership in embracing scientific research as key pillar of country's innovation strategy". WAM. 2016-04-19. Archived from the original on 2016-04-23.

[:0-3] "Cloud Seeding, Studies and Assessment". National Center of Meteorology and Seismology. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05.

[:1-4] "Cloud Seeding". National Center of Meteorology and Seismology official website. Archived from the original on 2019-02-17.

[5] "Scientists are making it rain in Abu Dhabi". CNN. 30 March 2016.

[:2-6] "Let it rain in UAE: $5m to stimulate rainfall". Emirates 24/7. February 17, 2015.

[7] "UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science committee meet to select 2015 cycle winners". uae interact. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-14.

[8] "UAE rain enhancement programme assesses pre-proposals". Gulf News. 17 May 2015.

[9] "Academic trio with 'heads in the clouds' win $5m UAE rain enhancement research grant". The National. 19 January 2016.

[10] "Hundreds of scientists apply for UAE research programme to increase rainfall". The National. 12 May 2015.

[11] "UAE research programme for rain enhancement science". World Meteorological Organization. 4 May 2016.

[12] "UAE research programme for rain enhancement science". World Meteorological Organization. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.

[13] "UAE Research Program For Rain Enhancement Science Shortlists Promising Research Projects From Around The World In Second Cycle". Middle East Events. 23 May 2016.

[14] "Research Groups from USA, Finland and UK Announced as Recipients of UAE Rain Enhancement Program's 5 Million Dollar Grant". World Meteorological Organization. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023.

[15] "Research Groups From USA, Finland and UK Announced as Recipients of UAE Rain Enhancement Program's 5 Million Dollar Grant". Telegraphindia. Jan 18, 2017.^{[ dead link ]}

[16] "Abu dhabi sustainability week". Abu dhabi sustainability week.

[17] "Ali M. Abshaev". linkedin.

[18] "antigrad".

[19] "Eric W. Frew". Research and Engineering Center for Unmanned Vehicles. 29 October 2014.

[20] "Eric W. Frew Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department". colorado.

[21] "Lulin Xue". The National Center for Atmospheric Research.

[22] "Research Groups from the USA, China and Russia Announced as Awardees of UAEREP's US$5 Million Grant in its Third Cycle". UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science.

[23] "The UAE has carried out 6 cloud-seeding missions". Gulf news. 9 January 2018.

[Cloud_seeding_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates_:5-24] Farahat, A.; Abuelgasim, A. (2022-02-01). "Effect of cloud seeding on aerosol properties and particulate matter variability in the United Arab Emirates". International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 19 (2): 951–968. doi: 10.1007/s13762-020-03057-5 . ISSN 1735-2630. S2CID 231877327.

[25] Ćurić, Mladjen; Lompar, Miloš; Romanic, Djordje; Zou, Linda; Liang, Haoran (June 2019). "Three-Dimensional Modelling of Precipitation Enhancement by Cloud Seeding in Three Different Climate Zones". Atmosphere. 10 (6): 294. Bibcode:2019Atmos..10..294C. doi: 10.3390/atmos10060294 . ISSN 2073-4433.

[26] Cloud Seeding, National Center of Meteorology & Seismology, United Arab Emirates

[27] "UAE's Rain Enhancement Program Addresses Key Technical Challenges". Water Online. 22 April 2015.

[Cloud_seeding_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates_:2-28] "Is the UAE Really Making It Rain by Seeding Clouds?". www.vice.com. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]