Iran 'seeds clouds' to cope with super drought

(CLO) Faced with the most severe drought in decades, Iran has deployed "cloud seeding" measures in some areas to increase rainfall.

Iran's IRNA news agency reported on November 15 that "a cloud seeding flight was carried out in the Lake Urmia basin, marking the first application of this technique in the current hydrological year starting in September."

Lake Urmia, Iran's largest saltwater lake in the northwest, is currently in a severely depleted state due to drought. IRNA also added that cloud seeding will continue in the eastern and western provinces of Azerbaijan.

Lake Urmia, Iran. Photo: CC/Solmaz Daryani

Cloud seeding involves using aircraft to disperse silver iodide into clouds, which encourages the formation of ice crystals. These crystals help clouds accumulate more moisture before they rain. Last year, Iran announced the successful development of its own technology for the technique.

The drought situation in Iran is particularly serious as more than half of the provinces have not recorded significant rainfall for many consecutive months, causing water levels in reservoirs to drop to record lows.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of the possibility of having to evacuate the capital Tehran if the lack of rain continues until the end of November.

Although some western and northwestern provinces of Iran have seen rain, IRNA said actual rainfall has fallen by 89% compared to the season's average. "We are experiencing the driest autumn in 50 years," Iran's National Meteorological Agency said.

Source: https://congluan.vn/iran-gieo-may-de-ung-pho-voi-sieu-han-han-10318073.html