Is artificial rain in Pakistan has become a necessity for us in the 21st century? Rain is beneficial for the earth in numerous ways. It maintains the water cycle and makes sure the availability of sweet drinkable water to living beings. Many years ago, seawater was also drinkable. However, rainwater flowing into the sea carried salts and other minerals over the years, making seawater unfit for drinking.
Rain and Green Cover
Similarly, rainfall is also necessary for maintaining the earth’s green cover. The plants and the trees also attract rain to that specific area through the process of transpiration. As a result, the overall ambiance of the atmosphere becomes so much more pleasurable for living.
However, due to human intervention, the green cover is becoming less and less with time. This has negatively impacted the overall climate of the earth. Reduction in the green cover and the excessive emissions of the GHG gases, the earth’s overall temperature is rising day by day. Thus, we have extreme unpredicted weather conditions across the globe.
The process of Artificial Rain
The United Arab Emirates is using drones to create artificial rain. The main process is that a drone is flown into the clouds. While flying into the clouds, the drone releases an electric shock. This results in water droplets sticking together. Thus, when the droplet becomes heavy enough, they fall as rain. This process is called cloud seeding.
Another cloud seeding method involves salt flayers. In this method, rockets, cannons, or airplanes blast salt flares into clouds. As a result, moisture clusters around the salt particles. When these particles become heavy, they fall as rain or snow.
Is Artificial Rain in Pakistan the panacea for our water woes?
Cloud seeding can increase rainfall by 30 to 35% in a clear atmosphere. It can clear the fog to improve visibility. Moreover, it can also reduce the size of hail and prevent hail storms.
However, cloud seeding doesn’t always go as planned. In 2009 China, overdid it to end an intense drought resulting in an extreme temperature drop and a snow storm. Furthermore, rain in one area might also bring drought to another. This can lead to weather imbalances.
Scientists are exploring new ways to cool the planet such as stratospheric aerosol injection. In this method, particles are sprayed into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and reduce global temperatures. This method is still in an experimental phase.
In my view, prevention is better than cure. We must reduce all such activities that have a negative impact on the environment. Otherwise, we will be responsible for the destruction of the life-sustaining mother earth.
