The UAE has established the world's first factory dedicated to producing high-quality salt flares for cloud-seeding, located in the region, possibly even globally. This innovative facility offers three times the performance of traditional hygroscopic materials. The National Centre of Meteorology’s (NCM) Emirates Weather Enhancement Factory in Abu Dhabi specializes in manufacturing these salt flares, which are crucial for the UAE’s cloud-seeding missions aimed at boosting regional rainfall.
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAE Rain Enhancement Program (UAEREP), highlighted the significance of Prof. Linda Zou’s nanotechnology-based cloud-seeding materials. These materials, exclusively produced in the UAE, have shown a 300% increase in large water droplet formation compared to conventional seeding materials. Mazroui emphasized that this breakthrough, initially developed in 2016, has undergone extensive global scientific evaluation and is now in the commercialization phase.
Inside the factory, a meticulous manufacturing process ensures the optimal chemical composition and particle size of the salts, such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride. Each flare undergoes rigorous testing to guarantee its effectiveness under various weather conditions. These flares are then loaded onto specialized aircraft for cloud-seeding missions, where they release salt particles to stimulate precipitation.
Omar Al Yazeedi, Deputy Director General of the NCM, underscored the importance of having a dedicated facility for producing these flares. This not only facilitates more research and testing but also positions the UAE as a leader in cloud-seeding technology within the region. The NCM is also in the process of equipping a new aircraft specifically for rain enhancement research, expanding its fleet of specialized King Air aircraft and a team of expert pilots and crew.
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