The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science is a $5 million grant program overseen by the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and National Center of Meteorology and Seismology. It aims to advance the science of cloud seeding to increase rainfall in arid regions and encourage international collaboration. Up to five researchers can receive three-year grants for innovative projects studying cloud microphysics, seeding materials and methods, and measuring seeding effects. Participation is open to public/private organizations and individuals worldwide who can demonstrate facilities to conduct the proposed research.
2. What is the UAE Research
Program for Rain
Enhancement Science?
• An initiative of the UAE Ministry of Presidential
Affairs (MoPA), overseen by the National Center
of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS)
• Offers a $5 million dollars grant for up to five
researchers for innovative projects.
• The Program supports innovative research
projects over a 3 years period.
• The Program also encourages international
cooperation between awardees of each Cycle.
3. • To contribute to water security through
enhancing rainfall in arid and semi-arid
regions.
• To advance the science, technology, and
implementation of cloud seeding, and spur
additional investments in research funding
and partnerships globally
The Program’s Objectives
4. Why is the Program
important?
• Increasing number of population and
economic expansion will put an additional
pressure on existing water supplies
• Acceleration climate change will threaten
almost half of the world’s population with high
water stress by 2030
• The UAE itself is considered an arid climate
with less than 100mm of rainfall per year.
Water stress
dry
5. 1- Fundamental Understanding of Rainfall
Enhancement
• Cloud microphysics, dynamics and
thermodynamics, in addition to mechanisms
of droplet growth and rainfall
• Characterization of cloud seeding materials
and delivery means
• Identifying proper seeding time and
measurements activities.
Research Impacts
6. 2- Data Modeling, Analysis and Evaluation
• Historical and new data, analysis and
retrieval of previous experiments data
• Microphysical and dynamical modeling
• Evaluation / Statistics – of seeding effects
from natural variability.
Research Impacts
7. 3- Experimental Design, Technologies &
Instrumentation
• Production and characterization of different /
new seeding materials and approaches to
seeding
• Seeding methodologies assessment (ground-
based, airborne)
• Remote sensing as well as in-situ
observation techniques and technologies
applied to rainfall enhancement
• Field experiments design; focused on small
and large scale.
Research Impacts
9. Who is eligible to participate
in the Program?
• Domestic or foreign,
• public of private,
• non-profit or for-profit organizations,
• individuals.
10. What are the participation
requirements?
Participants must:
• clearly demonstrate their access to facilities
and infrastructure to carry out the proposed
project,
• follow the agreements that the UAE requires to
prove the ability to manage the grant funding.
11. • Research Project: “Advanced study on precipitation
enhancement in arid and semi-arid regions”
• Focuses on innovative algorithms and sensors
dedicated to identifying the clouds most suitable for
seeding.
Prof Masataka Murakami
12. Prof Linda Zou
• Research Project: “Nanotechnology to accelerate
water condensation nucleation and growth”
• Focuses on different ways of employing current
knowledge of nanotechnology to develop new
cloud seeding materials and make rain droplet
formation more efficient.
13. Prof Volker Wulfmeyer
• Research Project: “Optimizing cloud seeding by
advanced remote sensing and land cover
modification”
• Focuses on convergence zones and land cover
modification to enhance precipitation.
14. Timeline of the Program
January February March May August January
Announcement of the
Program’s Third Cycle
Submission deadline for
letter of intent
Submission deadline for
pre-proposals
Inform participants invited
to the next phase
Submission deadline for
full proposals
Announcement of the
winners of Program’s
Third Cycle
15. Stay connected with us
www.uaerep.ae
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