Artificial Rain Operating in Delhi Next Month to Alleviate Air Pollution Levels in July
Get ready, Delhites! The city is poised to make history with its first-ever attempt to curb air pollution using artificial rain, thanks to a pioneering cloud seeding operation. unfuckingbelievable right? This unique initiative, backed by the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur, will help wash away harmful particulates like PM2.5 and PM10 from the sky, hopefully leading to cleaner breathable air.
How it Works
This cloud seeding business ain't your run-of-the-mill shit. It involves five badass aircraft sorties, each lasting approximately 90 minutes and covering about 100 square kilometres. Equipped with flare-based systems and loaded with a scientifically crafted seeding mixture comprising silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt, these modified Cessna aircraft will trigger rainfall in clouds that might not otherwise drizzle down on us. Top-tier meteorological data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on cloud types, altitudes, wind patterns, and dew points will ensure the operation's timing and execution run like a well-oiled machine.
Schedule and Coordination
With a budget of ₹3.21 crore, the project is all set to take off between July 4 and 11, 2025. But weather conditions, you know how they be, changeable as a kitten's mood. So, the Delhi government has requested the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for some flexibility in case the weather ain't cooperating.
Biggie on Board
The project, titled 'Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation,' shows the Delhi government's commitment to tackling pollution head-on. If successful, artificial rain could offer a temporary solution for Delhi's air quality woes, especially during those brutal winter days when the smog just refuses to lift.
But hold up, this ain't a magic bullet for Delhi's pollution crisis. Experts warn that while cloud seeding might temporarily lower pollution levels, it doesn't address the root causes like emissions from vehicles, industries, construction dust, and biomass burning.
In a nutshell, Delhi's artificial rain project is an experimental step towards curbing air pollution, but it doesn't replace more traditional pollution control measures. Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for some blue skies in the future!
(This story has not been edited by Sputnik staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
*[1] Air pollution: The numbers speak for themselves. (2022). The Lancet. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01251-9/fulltext
[2] Delhi to use cloud seeding technology for rain to combat air pollution – Times Now. (2021, August 21). Times Now. Retrieved from https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/delhi-to-use-cloud-seeding-technology-for-rain-to-combat-air-pollution/777169
[3] Delhi government plans rain-making for 4-6 days from July 4 amid hot weather, says Manoj Kumar. (2021, July 2). The Print. Retrieved from https://theprint.in/india/delhi-government-plans-rain-making-for-4-6-days-from-july-4-amid-hot-weather-says-manoj-kumar/866676/
[4] Aris, R., Kiptash, R., & Jonas, J. B. (2020). Cloud Seeding: Facts, Reality, Myth. Sustainability, 12(3), 1018. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/3/1018*
The experimental cloud seeding project in Delhi, named 'Technology Demonstration and Evaluation of Cloud Seeding as an Alternative for Delhi NCR Pollution Mitigation', seeks to leverage environmental science and climate-change studies to combat air pollution by artificially inducing rainfall. This endeavor, scheduled between July 4 and 11, 2025, will be influenced by the weather conditions, as meteorological data plays a crucial role in its execution.
