Environment & Ecology, Governance
In news: Recently, the UAE and the Middle East countries are trying to catch rain through cloud seeding techniques which is the bone of contention among the countries in the region.
Cloud Seeding (Weather Modification)
- Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall. It works only when there are enough pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere.
- Drones are charged into the clouds and cause an electric shock due to which they clump together and cause rainfall.
- Otherwise, in this process either silver iodide, potassium iodide or dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is dumped onto the clouds causing rainfall. The seeds of chemicals can be delivered by plane or simply by spraying from the ground.
- Cloud-seeding chemicals can be dispersed in clouds either by fly-through aircraft or by ground-based dispersion devices that use rockets or guns to fire canisters into the sky.
Source: Nytimes.com
Previous Year Question
Q.1) Consider the following: (2022)
- Carbon monoxide
- Nitrogen oxide
- Ozone
- Sulphur dioxide
Excess of which of the above in the environment is/are cause(s) of acid rain?
- 1, 2 and 3
- 2 and 4 only
- 4 only
- 1, 3 and 4
