Cloud Seeding Project to Kick Off in Central Iran Soon: Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s National Cloud Seeding Research Center plans to implement a cloud seeding project in central parts of the country in the near future, the head of the center said.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Farid Golkar said the project will be implemented in central Iran starting from November 6.
“Currently, we are equipping the airplane due to be used for the cloud seeding project,” he added.
The National Cloud Seeding Research Center is going to carry out the project in the highlands of the central province of Yazd, the official said, adding that in the next stages, the center will put other areas of the country on the agenda.
In January, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh voiced readiness to help the Energy Ministry to carry out cloud-seeding operations, saying his forces were at the Iranian nation’s service and would mobilize all equipment to help the administration.
It came after frequent droughts and low rainfall in Iran over the past autumn forced the administration to opt for cloud seeding in the hope of squeezing more precipitation out of the atmosphere.
Cloud seeding originated in the US in the 1940’s. The method generally used in the winter involves ground-based generators set at high elevations that are literally fired up to release plumes containing silver iodide crystals into storm clouds. When water vapor or droplets attach to the silver iodide crystal, latent heat is also released, and it increases cloud size and the duration of storms.
Global warming has forced many arid and semi-arid areas around the world, including Iran, to suffer from drought.