Cloud Seeding in Delhi: Artificial rain is being created to alleviate pollution in Delhi. A trial of cloud seeding was conducted today using a Cessna plane. It is expected that rain could occur within 15 minutes to 4 hours. Currently, cloud seeding has been conducted in North Karol Bagh, Khekra, Mayur Vihar, and Sadiqpur. This process will continue intermittently for the next several days. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the trial was conducted today due to cloud conditions. However, the biggest question is whether this artificial rain, which will pour down in just a few hours, will be harmful to health. Let's learn the simple answers to each question from K.J. Ramesh, former DGM of the Indian Meteorological Department…

Question: What is artificial rain?
Answer: Rain is a natural phenomenon. When moisture in the clouds increases, it turns into droplets and falls on the ground. However, artificial rain is an attempt to enlarge existing clouds. When clouds contain water but fail to rain, technology is used to chemically transform the moisture in the clouds into ice crystals or water droplets, so that they fall on the ground. This process is called artificial rain.

Question: Why and how is cloud seeding done? Explain the entire process.

Answer: Clouds are formed from moisture, but for them to rain, the process of cloud condensation nuclei is necessary, which forms droplets. If there is sufficient moisture around a cloud but it is not growing and is not ready to rain, it is believed that the cloud's droplet formation, i.e., its breaking into droplets, is impaired. In such a situation, cloud seeding is used to make it larger. For this, the operational team on the ground first observes whether a cloud is nearby or not through radar or satellite.

What is the size of the cloud moving through the air? Which direction are the clouds coming from, and which direction are they moving? Once all these things are clear, suppose we want to induce rain in Delhi, then silver iodide is injected into the clouds before they reach Delhi, which encourages the formation of droplets, and the clouds rain.

Question: Is water also delivered to the clouds?
Answer: No. In artificial rain, water is not delivered to the clouds. Rather, the clouds have sufficient moisture.

Question: Can cloud seeding happen without clouds?
Answer: No. Artificial rain is not possible without clouds. Cloud seeding can only be done if there are clouds. Currently, no technology can create clouds. Artificial clouds cannot be created like artificial rain.

Question: Is it possible to rain all over Delhi at once?
Answer: Since this process depends on clouds, cloud seeding can only be done in the direction from which the clouds are blowing with the wind. This requires targeted efforts.

Question: Can clouds be made to move as desired?

Answer: The direction or speed of clouds cannot be changed. It depends on the wind's direction and the number of clouds it is carrying. Artificial rain can only be generated from clouds moving towards Delhi.

Question: Is artificial rainwater harmful to health?
Answer: No. Artificial rainwater is harmless. Numerous studies and tests have been conducted. Silver iodide is added to the water, but it has no adverse health effects. Therefore, there is no need to worry.

Question: How successful has artificial rain been so far?
Answer: So far, it has been implemented in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and others, and the results are good. Global and Indian studies show that artificial rain can increase rainfall by 15 to 20 percent.

Question: How much does it cost?
Answer: It depends on the number of teams and aircraft involved, and how large an area needs to be covered by the number of clouds.

Question: These clouds can be made to rain wherever desired, but what harm will it cause to the areas beyond?
Answer: Yes, artificial rain can be created by stopping the rising clouds and making them rain at the desired location, but the rainfall in the area beyond will definitely be less. However, this is not frequent and is being done where it is most needed, so there is not much harm.

Question: What will be the impact on pollution?
Answer: Rain will bring down pollutants, but if it is done only in a few areas, pollution will be reduced there, but the situation will remain normal in other areas.

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