Saudi Arabia | The Kingdom expands its cloud seeding program to increase rainfall, extending it to new areas

<p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr">Arab Weather - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans to expand its cloud seeding program with the aim of increasing the amount of rain on its lands. Riyadh has formed a team of local and international researchers to benefit from early efforts in this field.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The competent authorities seek to implement the program in other regions of the Kingdom, in addition to leading broader regional research on cloud seeding practices, with the aim of improving its effectiveness and increasing its impact. </p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads-2020/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9%20%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9%20%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%91%D8%B9%20%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AC%20%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%AD%D8%A8%20%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AB%20%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AF%20%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82%20%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9.png" /></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><h2 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Previous rainmaking efforts and early challenges</h2><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> The Kingdom’s first efforts at cloud seeding began in the early 2000s, but were initially unsuccessful. However, recent advances in artificial intelligence, meteorology, and remote sensing technologies have helped restructure the program.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <strong>Research advances in understanding cloud seeding</strong></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> Researchers now have a better understanding of cloud seeding techniques, including when and how to apply these techniques. They also have a greater awareness of the types of clouds that are suitable for this process, and the expected returns from this effort.</p><h3 style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <strong>Program objectives: Increase water and combat desertification.</strong></h3><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> According to a report published by the Semafor news platform, the Kingdom’s cloud seeding program seeks to increase water reserves to address the challenges of water scarcity, in addition to combating desertification that threatens the country’s dry regions.</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> See also:</p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a href="https://www.arabiaweather.com/ar/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%... Arabia | Executive Director of the Cloud Seeding Program: We started with 5 planes and collected nearly 5 billion m3</a></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"> <a href="https://www.arabiaweather.com/ar/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%... Arabia receives 5 new rainmaking aircraft</a></p><p style=";text-align:left;direction:ltr"></p>