Artificial Rain Project To Combat Delhi Pollution

Artificial Rain Project To Combat Delhi Pollution:

Delhi government has been considering artificial rain through cloud seeding as a measure to combat escalating pollution levels in the city.

• IIT-Kanpur has conducted pilot projects during monsoon months, and the focus is now on winter conditions.
• A minimum requirement of 40% cloud and moisture is necessary for cloud seeding.
• The potentially favorable conditions for artificial rain are projected on November 20 and 21, 2023.
• The project involves using silver iodide and other components for cloud seeding via aircraft.
• The effectiveness of artificial rain in reducing pollution levels depends on factors like moisture and rainfall.

Cloud Seeding: 

• It is the process of artificially generating rain by implanting clouds with particles such as silver iodide crystals.
• Cloud seeding uses planes to spray clouds with chemicals to condense smaller particles into larger rain droplets.
• Methods:
  • Static Cloud Seeding:
    • This method involves introducing ice nuclei, such as silver iodide or dry ice, into cold clouds that have supercooled liquid water droplets.
    • The ice nuclei can trigger the formation of ice crystals or snowflakes, which can grow at the expense of the liquid droplets and fall as precipitation.
  • Dynamic Cloud Seeding:
    • Dynamic cloud seeding is a method of inducing rain by boosting vertical air currents.
    • The process is considered more complex than static cloud seeding because it depends on a sequence of events working properly.
  • Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding:
    • This method involves spraying fine particles of hygroscopic materials, such as salts through flares or explosives into the base of warm clouds.
    • The particles can act as cloud condensation nuclei and increase the number and size of the cloud droplets, which can enhance the reflectivity and stability of the clouds.