Indian scientists get breakthrough in cloud seeding: Maharashtra's Solapur gets 18% more rainfall

Cloud seeding experiment in Maharashtra's Solapur region resulted in 18 per cent more rainfall than usual, as per a study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS). As per a TOI report, scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune and other institutes conducted the study.

The experiment involved hygroscopic cloud seeding, which is done in warm convective clouds with a cloud base height greater than zero degree Celsius. Calcium chloride particles were released at the convective cloud base to trigger rainfall. Thara Prabhakaran, the project director of Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment, said, "As per radar observations, there was a relative enhancement of rainfall by 18% in the 'seed' category clouds."

The experiment, conducted between 2017-19, evaluated 276 clouds using advanced equipment such as automatic rain gauges, radars, radiometers, and aircraft. Scientists also conducted glaciogenic seeding in cold clouds containing both ice and water. However, the study found that glaciogenic seeding did not significantly affect rainfall at the seeding location.


Nevertheless, an increase in rainfall was observed in the downwind area of the seeded region, supported by synoptic weather conditions. Based on the findings, scientists have recommended the use of hygroscopic cloud seeding to enhance rainfall in water-scarce areas in India, provided suitable conditions are met.

The study was part of a project initiated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and highlights the potential of cloud seeding as a method to alleviate water stress in certain regions.