Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) to understand the Rain Formation in Clouds and the impact of Randomized Cloud Seeding
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is putting its effort in understanding the rain formation in clouds through a research program called Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX). Under this experiment, air borne observations are taken through randomized cloud seeding and the impact is recorded.
The CAIPEEX program uses a combination of radar, other ground based instruments and airborne platforms along with high resolution numerical modeling to plan and conduct the seeding experiment. The area for cloud seeding is determined based on convective potential.
Aircraft observations have to be conducted before and after the seeding to determine the environmental conditions and the quantum of seeding material. These operations include detailed measurements of aerosols, cloud droplets, raindrops and ice particles, registering the growth of clouds before and after the seeding. The research data has been used to formulate ice nucleation scheme for inclusion of such processes in the forecast models.
As things stand today, artificial rain making techniques involving cloud seeding cannot be used for bringing rain clouds to rainfall deficit/drought areas. These techniques can only induce potential pre-existing clouds with adequate cloud droplets, to produce enhanced quantum of rain.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
The CAIPEEX program uses a combination of radar, other ground based instruments and airborne platforms along with high resolution numerical modeling to plan and conduct the seeding experiment. The area for cloud seeding is determined based on convective potential.
Aircraft observations have to be conducted before and after the seeding to determine the environmental conditions and the quantum of seeding material. These operations include detailed measurements of aerosols, cloud droplets, raindrops and ice particles, registering the growth of clouds before and after the seeding. The research data has been used to formulate ice nucleation scheme for inclusion of such processes in the forecast models.
As things stand today, artificial rain making techniques involving cloud seeding cannot be used for bringing rain clouds to rainfall deficit/drought areas. These techniques can only induce potential pre-existing clouds with adequate cloud droplets, to produce enhanced quantum of rain.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
