What Is Cloud Seeding? Karnataka’s Man-Made Precipitation Operation Takes Off From HAL Airport

Karnataka has initiated a cloud-seeding mission to augment rainfall and combat the ongoing drought and water crisis in the state. Karnataka's Water Resources Minister, N Cheluvarayaswamy, launched the government's ambitious cloud seeding project at Bengaluru's HAL Airport on Friday.

The operation involves specialized aircraft targeting suitable clouds to induce precipitation. The minister waved the national and state flags to commence the cloud seeding at HAL Airport, expressing optimism about the project's success. He noted that cloud seeding was attempted in 2003, achieving a 27% success rate, and reiterated that the aim this time is not about success or failure, but to benefit farmers and address the water crisis.

Cloud seeding involves introducing cloud-seeding agents into clouds to facilitate the formation of water droplets or ice crystals, which subsequently fall as rain. Substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or salts are commonly used. However, the effectiveness of cloud seeding is contingent on various factors, including cloud structure, humidity, temperature, wind, and the presence of sufficient moisture. Thus, it cannot generate rain from a clear sky and its success rate may vary.

Cloud seeding has been attempted across India and globally, often in drought-prone regions, as a supplementary measure to natural rainfall. While the technology holds promise as a supplemental tool, it is not viewed as a replacement for comprehensive water management strategies.