The President of the World Meteorological Organization opens the Scientific Conference on Weather Modification in India
Pune – India, 4 November / WAM / His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, President of the World Meteorological Organization and Director General of the National Center of Meteorology, yesterday opened the work of the Eleventh Scientific Conference on Weather Modification, which is hosted by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, affiliated with the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences, in Pune, and will continue until November 7. The opening ceremony, which was held in the institute’s “Megdot” hall, witnessed the presence of a number of dignitaries and experts in the field of meteorology and climate, including Dr. M. Ravichandran, Under Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India, and Dr. M. Mohapatra, Director General of the Indian Meteorological Department, in addition to the heads of the expert group at the World Meteorological Organization, Dr. Sarah Tessendorf and Dr. Stephen Sims, along with representatives of international organizations, research centers and universities from various countries of the world. In his opening speech, His Excellency Dr. Al Mandoos stressed that scientific innovation in weather modification has become a fundamental pillar for enhancing water and food security globally, and that development in research and modern technologies constitutes a pivotal element in confronting the challenges of climate change, stressing the World Meteorological Organization’s commitment to supporting capacity building and enhancing knowledge exchange between countries to transform research results into practical applications that reduce drought and scarcity of water resources. His Excellency explained that holding the conference comes at a stage in which the frequency of extreme weather phenomena is increasing and the need for effective technologies to enhance the efficiency of rainfall is increasing, stressing that international cooperation in meteorology is a basis for achieving sustainable development goals, while noting the pioneering role of the UAE through the “Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science” in developing scientific knowledge and innovation globally. This scientific event represents a global platform that brings together scientists, decision-makers and specialists to discuss the latest results of field and laboratory studies in the field of rain enhancement and exchange best scientific practices, in a way that enhances international cooperation and consolidates the World Meteorological Organization’s approach to supporting the responsible use of weather modification techniques to serve societies and achieve sustainable development. The conference will review the role of satellites and drones in supporting rain seeding operations and analyzing weather data, and how these technologies can be used to improve the accuracy of forecasts and decision-making. The conference includes more than 16 scientific sessions and specialized workshops that address several topics, including enhancing rainfall, reducing hail and fog phenomena, lightening marine clouds, and climate intervention, in addition to discussing weather forecasts based on artificial intelligence and the ethical and social aspects of modern weather modification technologies. On the other hand, His Excellency Dr. Al Mandoos and the accompanying delegation visited the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, where they toured the two wind tunnel laboratories to study cloud physics and fluid dynamics, during which they viewed the latest research equipment that allows studying cloud formation, atmospheric turbulence, and the effect of aerosols on rainfall, including the use of laser technologies and wind simulators to test the efficiency of various seeding materials, which reflects India’s advanced level in weather modification research, improving cloud seeding, and reducing the risk of storms and fog. His Excellency praised this progress, stressing that scientific cooperation between the UAE and India constitutes a platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening regional capabilities in confronting climate challenges and supporting environmental and water sustainability, which was embodied during the opening ceremony, which concluded with the lighting of the traditional flag lamp, marking a new phase of scientific partnership between the World Meteorological Organization, the Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the Institute, in order to enhance the commitment to supporting innovation and research in the fields of meteorology and climate change.
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