In this regard, climate and monitoring experts confirm that, despite the rainfall in recent days, it remains insufficient for a fruitful agricultural season. Therefore, the only solution is to resort to artificial seeding.
Cloud seeding is carried out, technically, by stimulating clouds in the sky, whether those that naturally carry rain or others, to complete the process of rain, whether by accelerating rain from some clouds over areas that need rainwater, or increasing cloud generation.
Raining is the solution
Speaking about this process, the expert on climate and sustainable development, Mohamed Benabbou, explains to “Sky News Arabia”, that the lack of water supply due to drought has prompted many countries around the world, including Morocco, to resort to what is known as “cloud seeding” in order to raindrops;
This technology, which was developed in the United States in 1946, focuses on pouring silver salts or sodium iodide into the cloud. .
Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification that can be used to disperse fog, deter hail, or increase rain and snowfalls. It requires condensation of water vapor into liquid water to form clouds and precipitation.
“Therefore, the amount of condensation nuclei in the air can be a limiting factor for the passage of water vapor in the atmosphere into liquid water, and cloud droplets grow before precipitation by capturing other droplets,” Ben Abbou adds.
The environmental expert stressed that the technique of cloud seeding is one of the effective solutions to the problem of drought, and this technique aims to increase rainfall by 14 to 17 percent.
The success of the process of artificial seeding in a country requires a set of preconditions, and the speaker stresses the necessity of having appropriate hydraulic and hydroelectric infrastructures, in addition to an irrigation system sufficiently developed to accommodate this process. In all cases, regardless of the method used, the specific weather conditions are necessary.
IVF risks
Among the risks of artificial insemination, the expert in sustainable development says that the amount of precipitation that may result in floods is not controlled, noting that the seeding technique is environmentally friendly, as it has no effect on the occurrence of floods or hurricanes, in addition to the fact that the chemicals used in pollination do not pollution of ecosystems.
He pointed out that scientists confirm that the amounts of silver iodide emitted during cloud seeding are accurate and take place without negative consequences.
Benabou questioned whether the economic benefits of the Al-Ghaith program are clear. The question remains about the impact of enrichment operations on water quality, as the “Water Modification” association had previously asked in a report about the environmental impacts associated with the use of cloud enrichment materials.
The association, which includes scientific and professional experts working in the field of water management in the United States and Canada, concluded that no harmful effect on the environment was observed from the use of silver iodide in cloud fertilization.
It is noteworthy that Morocco chooses the Atlas region, in the center of the country, to implement this process through 3 regions: Beni Mellal, El Hajeb and Azilal (in the Middle Atlas), given that it is witnessing the formation of clouds suitable for the pollination process, and requires coordination between meteorological services and the Royal Gendarmerie.
state efforts
The Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, said that his ministry will launch the “Ghaith” program aimed at raising the percentage of rain or snow using cloud seeding technology, as part of its quest to find alternative solutions to the scarcity of rainfall in the Kingdom.
Baraka added that the program will continue until April of each year, and will use chemicals that are not harmful to the environment, such as “silver iodine” for cold clouds (-5 degrees) and “sodium chloride” salt for warm clouds.
Rain rain has proven its effectiveness in Morocco for three decades, until it has become an experience exported to African countries, while an economic study by the National Directorate of Meteorology showed that every increase in rainfall in Morocco by 10 percent raises the total value of the agricultural crop by 3.4 percent.
Satellites are relied upon to predict the appropriate date for implementation, and then the Air Force’s turn comes to pollinate clouds with “silver iodide” or “sodium chloride” salt, depending on its temperature.
Assistive Technology
It is noteworthy that artificial rain drop by cloud seeding is a modern technology that was developed and applied for the first time in 1946 in the United States to combat drought, which was severe in the New York region.
Later, this technology spread to combat water shortages around the world, while sowing was practiced in Australia for more than 50 years, in southern Italy as well, in Sicily, Sardinia, Brazil and Canada, especially in Alberta, where it is used to blow clouds before the cold falls.
As for Morocco, the “Al Ghaith” program has been started since 1984 during the reign of King Hassan II, and the Kingdom has shared its experiences with a number of African partners, as the “Saga” program has been launched in Burkina Faso since 1997 with technical support from Rabat.
It should be noted that artificial rain formation was used to get rid of fumes from the reactor fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant during the 1986 disaster.
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