Skip to main content

Cloud-breaking Drones set to Boost Rainfall in the UAE

Other than delivery and military operations, have you ever thought that drones can be used to boost rainfall? Scientists at the University of reading have come up with a project that will see the deployment of drones in the clouds to boost rainfall.
According to BBC reports, drones that fly into the clouds will be given an electric shock that could ‘cajole them’ to producing rain, and will have its first test in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Cloud-seeding technology that drops salt to trigger precipitation is already in use in the country.
Prof Maarten Ambaum said that the project aims to alter the electric charge balance on cloud droplets. As reported by BBC he said: “The water table is sinking drastically in the UAE and the purpose of this is to try to help with rainfall.”
The project explores to utilize the clouds, which are plenty in the country, to encourage water droplets to coalesce through the application of static electricity. When the merging drops become so big “they will fall as rain.”
Alya Al-Mazroui who is the director of the UAE’s rain-enhancement science-research program, told the Arab News that: “Equipped with a payload of electric-charge emission instruments and customized sensors, these drones will fly at low altitudes and deliver an electric charge to air molecules, which should motivate precipitation.”


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How Human Noise Kills Marine Species, as revealed by Scientists

Scientists have warned that the discord of noise made by humans is harming marine species .  A comprehensive assessment revealed that large noise from human activities was as harmful as pollution, overfishing and climate change .  The study that was conducted by the Journal Science exposed how marine animals can hear from far distances than they can see or smell. According to a report published in the Guardian, most of the marine life uses sound to catch prey as well as attracting a mating partner.  Prof Carlos Duarte of King Abdullah University in Saudi Arabia argued that: “Marine animal can only sea up to around 10 meters, smell up to around a hundred meters, but they can hear across the entire ocean basins.” The research concluded that sound “is very important in the marine ecosystems, and noise is pervasive, affecting animals at all levels .” The increasing cacophony in the marine habitat is interfering with how marine animals respond to various survival...

Why Ruto will heavily rely on Mudavadi, Joho in his reelection bid

 When Kenya president William Ruto was almost overwhelmed with gen z revolt, his landmark decision was to dismiss the entire cabinet. This occurred immediately after his refusal to sign the Finance Bill 2024/2025. Ruto endeavored to reconstitute a new cabinet, dubbed broad-based executive. He incorporated key opposition figures drawn from the ODM Party - a move that appeased the doyen of opposition Raila Amollo Odinga. Cabinet Secretaries drawn from ODM included: Hassan Ali Joho, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, John Mbadi Ng'onga and James Opiyo Wandayi. ODM is as good as dead, and Raila's age factor limits him from flying the Party's presidential flag again and has opted out by contesting as Africa Union Commission (AUC) chairman. President Ruto will heavily rely on two members of his cabinet in his reelection bid. Both Musalia Mudavadi and Hassan Ali Joho are billionaires going by their own assertion while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments. President...

Kenya’s Quest for New Chief Justice: Unraveling Maraga’s Successor

The Judicial service Commission (JSC) began the process of seeking Kenya’s new Chief Justice (CJ) and President of the Supreme Court, on Monday April 12, 2021. 13 individuals applied for the CJ position, but after a thorough scrutiny 3 were dropped.  The process began after the clearance of ten candidates wishing to succeed former Chief Justice David Kenani Maraga. Among those cleared for interviews were: Justice Said Chitembwe, Prof Patricia Mbote, Justice Martha Koome, Justice David Marete Njagi, former DPP Philip Murgor, Justice Mathew Nduma Nderi, Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, Justice William Ouko, Prof Moni Wekesa, and Alice Yano. JSC interviewing panel The interview panel was cast out of a nine-member bench drawn from JSC which includes: Prof Olive Mugenda (public representative/ JSC chairperson), Philomena Mwilu (acting Chief Justice), Agnes Amadi (Chief registrar of judiciary), Justice David Majanja (JSC commissioner), Justice Mohammed Warsame (JSC commissioner), ...