{"id":57555,"date":"2025-10-25T18:50:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T13:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=57555"},"modified":"2025-10-27T11:29:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T05:59:14","slug":"cloud-seeding-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-10-2025\/cloud-seeding-2","title":{"rendered":"Cloud Seeding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delhi Chief Minister has said <strong>cloud seeding is essential<\/strong> for the national capital as it could play a key role in controlling rising pollution levels during the winter season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Delhi\u2019s Air Quality Severe in Winter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Temperature Inversion:<\/strong> During winter, the air near the ground becomes cooler than the air above it.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This inversion layer traps pollutants (such as particulate matter and gases) close to the surface, preventing their vertical dispersion into the upper atmosphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low Wind Speeds:<\/strong> Winds are generally weaker in winter, which reduces horizontal dispersion of pollutants, allowing them to accumulate in the lower atmosphere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crop Residue Burning:<\/strong> Each year, post-harvest stubble burning in neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prevailing wind patterns carry this pollution towards Delhi, worsening air quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dust and Urban Pollution Entrapment:<\/strong> Urban dust and vehicular emissions linger longer in the atmosphere due to low boundary layer height in winter, compounding the pollution problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Cloud Seeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cloud seeding is a <strong>weather modification method<\/strong> to enhance a cloud\u2019s ability to produce rain or snow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>History:<\/strong> First demonstrated in 1946 by Vincent J. Schaefer, an American chemist and meteorologist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seeding Agents:<\/strong> Clouds are usually injected with salts like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or sodium chloride to trigger condensation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Silver iodide and dry ice (solid CO2) \u2013 effective in supercooled clouds (below freezing).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Calcium chloride \u2013 used for warmer clouds (above freezing).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Working Principle:<\/strong> The salts, or the seeding agents, serve as nuclei around which water droplets can form or ice can crystallise.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As water droplets grow, they collide with others in the cloud. As they become heavy, the cloud gets saturated and it rains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meteorologists identify clouds for seeding which have sufficient moisture but are unable to produce enough precipitation on their own.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Methods of Delivery: <\/strong>These particles are dispersed into clouds using special aircraft, rockets, or dispersion devices kept on the ground.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f6f3f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f6f3f1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"348\" height=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184917.png\" alt=\"cloud seeding applications\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-57575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184917.png 348w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184917-300x220.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can Cloud Seeding Help in Combating Air Pollution?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Dependence on Natural Cloud:<\/strong> Cloud seeding depends on natural clouds; it can\u2019t create them.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And even when clouds exist, the evidence that seeding reliably increases rainfall remains weak and contested.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact on Pollution:<\/strong> When it rains and reduces pollution, the respite is temporary, the pollution levels go back up within a day or two.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Efficiency:<\/strong> Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and PM10 get washed away with prolonged precipitation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, there is no impact on other pollutants such as ozone and sulphur dioxide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f6ebde\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f6ebde;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"482\" height=\"226\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184955.png\" alt=\"cloud seeding challenges\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-57576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184955.png 482w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-25-184955-300x141.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 482px) 100vw, 482px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What can be Other Measures?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Root Causes Identified by Science:<\/strong> Long-standing scientific consensus attributes hazardous air quality to emissions from vehicles, industries, power plants, construction, waste burning, and agricultural stubble fires.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Known Long term Solutions:<\/strong> Cleaner transport systems (electric mobility, public transport, emission norms).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sustainable energy transition (phasing out coal, promoting renewables).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Effective waste management and dust control in construction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urban planning that minimizes congestion and reduces pollution sources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on Quick Fixes:<\/strong> There is an increasing reliance on temporary measures like smog towers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/30-06-2025\/artificial-rain-in-delhi\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/30-06-2025\/artificial-rain-in-delhi\">artificial rain<\/a>, or short-term bans though they are effective in short terms.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Need for Evidence-Based, Ethical Action: <\/strong>Real change demands systemic reforms and long-term enforcement of emission controls.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/why-cloud-seeding-is-not-a-solution-to-delhis-air-crisis-explained\/article70194164.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Delhi Chief Minister has said cloud seeding is essential for the national capital as it could play a key role in controlling rising pollution levels during the winter season.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is Delhi\u2019s Air Quality Severe in Winter?<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Temperature Inversion: During winter, the air near the ground becomes cooler than the air above it.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">This inversion layer traps pollutants (such as particulate matter and gases) close to the surface, preventing their vertical dispersion into the upper atmosphere.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Low Wind Speeds: Winds are generally weaker in winter, which reduces horizontal dispersion of pollutants, allowing them to accumulate in the lower atmosphere.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Prevailing wind patterns carry this pollution towards Delhi, worsening air quality.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/25-10-2025\/cloud-seeding-2\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":57591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/10\/cloud-seeding.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57555"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57555\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57613,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57555\/revisions\/57613"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}