Saudi Arabia | The launch of the first flights for rain in Riyadh, Qassim and Hail

Arab Weather - The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center of Meteorology, Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, announced the start of the operational operations of the cloud seeding program, and the launch of the first flights for rain in the atmosphere of the regions of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, as part of the first phase of the program.

The implementation of the “Industrial Rain Enhancement” program in the Kingdom, which was recently approved by the Council of Ministers, aims to increase the rate of rainfall in the Kingdom above the current rate, which does not exceed 100 mm annually, because the Kingdom is one of the driest countries in the world, and does not contain permanent bodies of water such as rivers and lakes.

The CEO of the National Center of Meteorology and supervisor of the cloud seeding program, Dr. Ayman Ghulam, said that the operating room concerned with the program was recently launched at the headquarters of the National Center of Meteorology in Riyadh, concerned with monitoring the clouds expected to rain, and the implementation of the first flights began over the Riyadh region, and it achieved its desired goals in terms of the success of the rain seeding process. and its time factor, as well as the desired results, indicating that experts are currently working on studying the research and scientific framework; To benefit from its outputs in the scheduled seeding operations, the center will issue periodic reports on the progress of the program.

Dr. Ghulam added that the current operations of cloud seeding are working according to the time plan prepared for them and within the framework of the operational work, in cooperation with all concerned authorities, where an operation room has been established working around the clock and equipped with the most accurate meteorological techniques and accurate radars, in addition to scientists and international experts in the field of cloud seeding and technical support. logistical; With the aim of observing clouds and identifying seeding sites, the designated aircraft would sow “environmentally friendly” stimulating materials in specific places of the clouds, to stimulate the process of precipitation on the targeted areas and increase the amount of rain, noting that the cloud seeding program is one of the promising ways that it is hoped that it will be one of the components Preserving the water balance, as it is a safe, flexible and cost-effective technology, pointing out that the first phase of the program includes the regions of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, while the second phase includes the regions of Asir, Al Baha and Taif, noting at the same time that the program includes research studies, evaluation of experiences, localization and knowledge transfer. for rain in the Kingdom.

It is noteworthy that the importance of the cloud seeding program comes as one of the outcomes of the Green Middle East Summit announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince - may God protect him - and it is part of a series of integrated national initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development, preserving the environment and looking for ways to It also contributes to reducing desertification and increasing green spaces in accordance with Vision 2030.

Source: Saudi Press Agency