Coaxing Water Out of the Middle East's Clouds New York Times August 29, 2022 Alissa J. Rubin

Living in the drought-stricken West, residents have heard planes flying overhead to cloud seed--either to prevent rain or to produce it. The articles author, Alissa J. Rubin, defined cloud seeding as "injecting chemicals into clouds to try to force precipitation" (p. A1). According to my understanding, cloud seeding can also prevent precipitation.  Within the Denver area, the cloud seeding planes constitute a familiar sound. This article in the New York Times, August 29, 2022, explained the extension of the technology of cloud seeding throughout the Middle East, faced with even less rainfall due to climate change. The article also disclosed the changing nature of "water wars" between nations. According to the article, Brig. General Gholam Reza Jalali stated in 2018, "Both Israel and another country are working to make Iranian clouds not rain" (p. A1). The country, United Arab Emirates,  with the most developed cloud seeding operation, according to the article, has pilots on standby to cloud seed when opportune conditions prevail. The country relies on two cloud seeding methods, "the traditional material made of silver iodide and a newly patented substance developed at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi that uses nanotechnology that researchers there say is better adapted to the hot, dry conditions in the Persian Gulf" (p. A14). 

Others remain skeptical about the science. Rubin revealed that "Israel, a pioneer in cloud seeding halted its program in 2021 after 50 years because it seemed to yield at best only marginal gains in precipitation" (A14). Other issues include the amount of water produced, evaporation of the water prior to reaching earth, and the movement of the water to areas not intended or desired. 

The United Arab Emirates appear undeterred.  "Despite the difficulties of gathering data on the efficacy of cloud seeding, Mr. Al Mandous said the emirates' methods were yielding at least a 5 percent increase in rain annually--and almost certainly far more" (p. A14). Other smaller countries that have cloud seeding programs include Morocco, Ethiopia, and Iran. Of the major powers, "China has the most ambitious program worldwide, with the aim of either stimulating rain or halting hail across half the country" (p. A14).