The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) has conducted a successful test flight for cloud seeding.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique involving the introduction of chemical agents such as silver iodide, dry ice, common salt and other elements into the clouds with the aim of enhancing the possibility of precipitation and in turn, rainfall.
The Artificial Rain Technology had been developed by China earlier but the knowledge had been withheld. Being in need, the IITK scientists took up the challenge of exploring and developing their expertise in the field.
The Artificial Rain Project was spearheaded by Professor Manindra Agrawal of IITK’s department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the experiment was conducted with due approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
To conduct the experiment, a Cessna aircraft with cloud seeding attachments was flown from IITK’s airstrip, up to a latitude of 5,000ft. The aircraft released the cloud seeding chemicals into the clouds to stimulate formation of rain clouds.
Shortly after the cloud seeding, rainfall was observed in surrounding areas.
This seemed to validate the effectiveness of the Artificial Rain Technology.
The 6-year journey started in 2017 after the government of Uttar Pradesh reached out for help to assist Bundelkhand with Artificial Rain.
China was contacted at the time for the project and they had agreed to do the cloud seeding for 10.30 lakh per kilometer, but the plan was suspended when China wasn’t open to sharing the knowledge with India.
6 years later, India has successfully carried out an effective cloud seeding experiment.
Manindra, the head of the Artificial Rain Project expressing his confidence and excitement said, “Our capabilities in this direction have been successfully tested.”
The Artificial Rain Technology can be employed to combat dry conditions and air pollution.
