A German company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran's National Cloud Seeding Research Center based on which the German company is to share cloud-seeding technology, particularly for enhancing precipitation and hail suppression.
The MoU was signed by German representatives Frank Dictor Kasparack and Aleksie Shilin and Farid Golkar, the director of NCSRC, late last week, IRNA reported.
The Germans indicated that they can offer expertise in advanced cloud seeding.
"We are willing to provide necessary material and aircrafts and train Iranian experts."
Regarding hail suppression, they said the best and most productive approach for Iran is yet to be determined.
"The best approaches are decided subject to the environmental conditions of the country. For instance, rocket approach has been the most effective in Russia, Bulgaria and Argentina. For Central Europe and Africa, however, aircraft is the most common approach."
The agreement with the German company, according to Golkar, will be an important step in expanding cloud seeding in the country. However, he said the main problem is the lack of funding and resources.
"Iran is the only country in the region with cloud-seeding technology since 1997. After 20 years, we have only two rented Ukrainian aircrafts in poor conditions.”
Several private organizations and NGOs have expressed the desire for cloud seeding to be conducted in their regions. Agreements have been reached recently with some provinces for cloud seeding and hail suppression, namely Khuzestan and Khorasan Razavi.
Cloud seeding is a form of weather modification to change the amount or type of precipitation by dispersing substances into the air, which serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei and alter the microphysical processes within the cloud.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints