Will a man-made MOUNTAIN solve the problem of droughts in the Gulf? Artificial structure could help boost rainfall in UAE
- Experts are working on a 'detailed modelling study' for the project
- Massive man-made mountain could be built to encourage clouds to form
- They could then be seeded to force rain, or let nature take its course
- There are no details for the mount's location, height or cost so far
From constructing the world's tallest skyscraper to building its own palm-shaped islands, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no stranger to grand projects.
Now there are plans to build a massive mountain in a bid to collect much-needed water.
Scientists are working on a design for a man-made mount which would create clouds that could then be seeded to force it to rain on demand.
Scientists are working on a design for a man-made mount which would create clouds that could then be seeded to force it to rain on demand, or nature could run its course (illustrated in the graphic above). Based on plans for a previous structure, it could be 1.2 miles (2km) tall
However, the plans are in their infancy and there are no details about how tall the mountain would be or where it would be built – let alone how much the project would cost.
A previous proposal put forward in the Netherlands suggested a mountain that measured 1.2 miles (2km) high would be enough to generate rain.
However, the region isn't as hot as the US and the plans said this height would only work if the 'mountain' was hollow.
Share this article
Experts from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Colorado are working on a 'detailed modelling study' according to lead researcher Roelof Bruintjes, at a cost of $400,000 (£276,384).
He told Arabian Business: 'What we are looking at is basically evaluating the effects on weather through the type of mountain, how high it should be and how the slopes should be.'
'We will have a report of the first phase this summer as an initial step.'
Scientists are working on a design for a man-made mount which would create clouds that could then be seeded to force it to rain on demand. There is no news on where it could be located, or how tall the mountain would be, but the project could provide water for bustling cities such as Dubai (stock image)
Mountains play a vital role in influencing both regional and global weather, causing warm, moist air to rise, creating clouds and ultimately rain.
The idea is that this natural process would be forced to occur thanks to the towering man-made structure.
The clouds generated by the mountain could be seeded – a weather modification process designed to maximise the amount of rain produced – to boost rainfall and control when wet weather occurs.
It is possible that if the mountain was tall enough, the precipitation process may occur naturally, so cooler temperatures would cause moist air to condense and droplets to fall as rain without the need for seeding.
Either way, the water could be collected and used to provide much needed hydration for people and plants nearby.
It only rains for a handful of days a year in the UAE, where temperatures reach 43°C (110°F), generating just five inches of water in total, The Washington Post reported.
This means cities such as Dubai have serious water shortages and supply problems, while rural farming areas need water for growing food for the population and tourists.
In a bid to solve this problem, cloud seeding is already used in the UAE.
Mountains play a vital role in influencing both regional and global weather, causing warm, moist air to rise, creating clouds and ultimately rain. A scene like this one in India could become a reality in the UAE
The process involves seeding the atmosphere with chemicals such as silver iodide or dry ice, which help form ice crystals.
This works thanks to a process called nucleation and involves a small amount of water in the air condensing around the new icy particles, which are liquid, but below freezing.
The minute ice droplets fall to Earth when they are too heavy to suspend in the air, melting on their way down to form rain.
The emirates' National Centre of Meteorology & Seismology (NCMS) recently revealed it spent $558,000 (£385,556) on 186 cloud seeding missions in UAE last year alone.
Dr Bruintjes admitted building a mountain is not a simple thing, and his team are experimenting with different heights, widths and locations in their plan to make the rain-making mount as effective as possible.
He said: 'If [the project] is too expensive for [the government], logically the project won't go through, but this gives them an idea of what kind of alternatives there are for the long-term future.'
If it does get the go-ahead, it will down to engineers to decide wither the goliath task will be possible and commercially viable.
Most watched News videos
- Scottish woman has temper tantrum at Nashville airport
- Tesla Cybertruck explodes in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- Mass panic as New Orleans attacker flies down Bourbon street
- Shocking moment zookeeper is fatally mauled by lions in private zoo
- Horrific video shows aftermath of New Orleans truck 'attack'
- Meghan Markle celebrates new year in first Instagram video
- Tesla Cybertruck burns outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- See how truck that drove into crowd made it through police barrier
- Cheerful Melania Trump bops to YMCA at Mar-a-Lago NYE bash
- New Orleans terror attack suspect reveals background in video
- Plane passenger throws drink at flight attendant in boozy fight
- Horrifying moment yacht crashes into rocks and sinks off Mexico coast
