Artificial rain creation through cloud seeding and Delhi's initiation of this technology
In a groundbreaking move, Delhi, India's capital, is set to trial cloud seeding as a novel method to reduce urban air pollution. This marks the first time such a technique is being used in a major city to combat pollution, rather than to increase rainfall for agriculture or reservoirs.
Cloud seeding is a method used to nudge the atmosphere, aiming to increase rainfall by encouraging water droplets to merge in clouds. There are different approaches to cloud seeding, including static seeding, dynamic seeding, and hygroscopic seeding. In Delhi's case, modified Cessna aircraft will release a calculated mix of silver iodide nanoparticles, iodised salt, and rock salt into moisture-rich clouds.
The operation, led by IIT Kanpur in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Delhi government, is scheduled to launch between July 4 and 11, 2025. Each sortie is expected to cover about 100 square kilometres in a 90-minute flight, with at least five flights planned during the trial period.
While the results are far from guaranteed and depend on the cooperation of the weather, experts predict a success rate of around 60% to 70%, given suitable weather and cloud types, such as moisture-heavy nimbostratus clouds with sufficient humidity at the right altitude.
However, it's important to note that cloud seeding is more of a temporary or stopgap measure rather than a long-term solution. This technique does not address the root causes of pollution, such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and crop burning. Instead, it works by introducing particles like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or salts into clouds to help water droplets clump together, potentially increasing rainfall by about 5–15%, which could effectively wash out particulate matter and temporarily improve air quality.
Critics also point out that the success of such pilots depends heavily on timing and environmental conditions. For example, carrying out cloud seeding during monsoon seasons with naturally high moisture may not yield representative results. Furthermore, cloud seeding is expensive, carries some risks, and its overall benefit for air pollution control remains debated among scientists.
In summary, cloud seeding in Delhi can provide intermittent relief by inducing rain to cleanse the air but is unlikely to reduce pollution sustainably or significantly without complementary measures to reduce pollution sources. It is regarded as an experimental, supplementary approach rather than a primary or reliable solution for Delhi’s persistent pollution crisis.
This initiative represents a turning point in how the city approaches environmental emergencies, as Delhi reimagines how it can harness science to survive in an era of climate extremes and environmental peril. The budget for the operation is Rs 3.21 crore.
[1] Article on cloud seeding for air pollution control [2] Article on cloud seeding effectiveness [3] Article on cloud seeding challenges [4] Article on cloud seeding risks and debates
- The trial of cloud seeding in Delhi's urban air pollution mitigation is a significant step in environmental-science innovation, marking the first use of this technique in a major city for pollution reduction.
- In the realm of weather-forecasting and climate-change, experts anticipate a 60-70% success rate for cloud seeding in Delhi, assuming suitable weather and cloud conditions, such as moisture-heavy nimbostratus clouds.
- Whilst cloud seeding can offer temporary air quality improvement, it's vital to acknowledge the technique's limitations, as it does not address the root causes of pollution and is an experimental, supplementary approach to Delhi's persistent pollution crisis.
