Delhi Artificial Rain Project
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: BS
Context: The Delhi Government has launched its first ₹3.21 crore artificial rain pilot project in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur and IMD to reduce air pollution through cloud seeding technology.
About Delhi Artificial Rain Project:
• What it is? Artificial rain refers to the technique of inducing rainfall by dispersing substances into moisture-laden clouds — aimed at improving air quality in Delhi.
• Artificial rain refers to the technique of inducing rainfall by dispersing substances into moisture-laden clouds — aimed at improving air quality in Delhi.
• Method Used: Uses cloud seeding by aircraft, dispersing agents like silver iodide and rock salt into clouds. Conducted in partnership with IIT-Kanpur, with technical support from IMD.
• Uses cloud seeding by aircraft, dispersing agents like silver iodide and rock salt into clouds.
• Conducted in partnership with IIT-Kanpur, with technical support from IMD.
• How It Works? Small aircraft will release a seeding mixture into nimbostratus clouds (with over 50% moisture). The agents act as condensation nuclei, helping cloud droplets grow and trigger precipitation, washing out pollutants.
• Small aircraft will release a seeding mixture into nimbostratus clouds (with over 50% moisture).
• The agents act as condensation nuclei, helping cloud droplets grow and trigger precipitation, washing out pollutants.
• Key Features: Advanced Seeding: Aircraft-mounted flares with silver iodide, rock salt, iodised salt trigger rain formation. Targeted Operations: Five 90-minute flights targeting ~100 sq km of Delhi’s most polluted areas. Scientific Monitoring: Real-time air quality tracking via CAAQMS for PM2.5 and PM10 reductions. First Urban Use: Builds on successful IIT-Kanpur trials in drought regions — now adapted for pollution control. Multi-agency Effort: Collaboration of Delhi Govt, IIT-Kanpur, IMD, with military-grade operational precision.
• Advanced Seeding: Aircraft-mounted flares with silver iodide, rock salt, iodised salt trigger rain formation.
• Targeted Operations: Five 90-minute flights targeting ~100 sq km of Delhi’s most polluted areas.
• Scientific Monitoring: Real-time air quality tracking via CAAQMS for PM2.5 and PM10 reductions.
• First Urban Use: Builds on successful IIT-Kanpur trials in drought regions — now adapted for pollution control.
• Multi-agency Effort: Collaboration of Delhi Govt, IIT-Kanpur, IMD, with military-grade operational precision.
• Significance: Aimed at reducing severe PM2.5/PM10 pollution episodes in Delhi winters. Provides scientific data for scaling up cloud seeding in other polluted Indian cities. Supports Delhi’s push for ‘right to clean air’ and innovative urban environmental governance.
• Aimed at reducing severe PM2.5/PM10 pollution episodes in Delhi winters.
• Provides scientific data for scaling up cloud seeding in other polluted Indian cities.
• Supports Delhi’s push for ‘right to clean air’ and innovative urban environmental governance.