Abu Dhabi Scientists Create Desert Rainstorms: Report

Desert dwellers wishing to transform their arid surroundings into a profitable, crop-sustaining oasis have reportedly gotten one step closer to making that dream a reality, as Abu Dhabi scientists now claim to have created more than 50 artificial rainstorms from clear skies during peak summer months in 2010.

According to Arabian Business, the storms were part of a top secret, Swiss-backed project, commissioned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE and leader of Abu Dhabi. Called "Weathertec," the climate project -- said to be worth a staggering $11 million -- utilized ionizers resembling giant lampshades to generate fields of negatively charged particles, which create cloud formation, throughout the country's Al Ain region, the Telegraph is reporting.

"We are currently operating our innovative rainfall enhancement technology, Weathertec, in the region of Al Ain in Abu Dhabid," Helmut Fluhrer, the founder of Metro Systems International, the Swiss company in charge of the project, is quoted as saying. "We started in June 2010 and have achieved a number of rainfalls."

Monitored by the Max Planck Institute for Technology, a leading tank for the study of atmosphere physics, the fake storms are said to have baffled Abu Dhabi residents by also producing hail, wind gales and even lightning.

"There are many applications," Professor Hartmut Grassl, a former institute director, is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying. "One is getting water into a dry area. Maybe this is a most important point for mankind."

Comments

[ArchbishopBenevolent]

04:09 PM on 01/05/2011

This is great if it works and the costs decrease.

[garder54]

12:29 PM on 01/05/2011

Instead of altering weather to make a desert sustainable, how about just don't live in a desert? If the ecosystem can't sustain human life than maybe the best idea is to just move! I am willing to bet a lot of unforseen consequences come out of this if it ever takes off.

[richarddugan]

12:43 AM on 01/08/2011

It's a little late to depopulate the desert... like several thousand years too late. Where would they go?

[Pandoras Folly]

11:52 AM on 01/05/2011

Now We at Cobra will finally be able to control the worlds weather and give Swamp @$$ to everyone!!!!

[JacksonJones]

11:14 AM on 01/05/2011

And they have threatened to use their new found powers to FLOOD THE WORLD with their rain in one week's time UNLESS the governments of the world provide them with.....one...MILLION....dollars!!!! Muaah hah hah hah!

[KalenLane]

10:30 AM on 01/05/2011

America can do this. Just put "Ben Livingston" in a search engine. He worked for our criminal govt. years ago and said we had the technology to control hurricanes back in the 60's. He also says they could have easily manipulated Katrina and even prevented it. But, of course, the criminals who run our govt. have their own reasons for chaos and destruction. Who benefits? The global elite behind the scenes who select the so called "elected" presidents.

[Nick Hatch]

01:49 PM on 01/05/2011

Utter nonsense. Hurricanes release the energy equivalent of an atomic bomb every 20 minutes - we have nothing short of atomic weapons to influence that kind of a weather system. There's a reason only the sun can drive weather on Earth.

[ArchbishopBenevolent]

04:10 PM on 01/05/2011

But there may be the flutter of a butterfly somewhere in the world that could change its course or make it weaker.

[KalenLane]

05:28 PM on 01/08/2011

It's not nonsense buddy.http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/october2005/141005weather_modification.htm

[David Alexander McDonald]

08:22 PM on 01/04/2011

So Reich's Rainmaker has been rediscovered?! Orgone energy to the rescue!

(I hate to think what this does to the climate worldwide, mind you.)

[Billy Jack]

05:52 PM on 01/04/2011

Wow! Great idea. Why can't America do this?

[Eric Burke]

02:14 AM on 01/05/2011

lol because of congress

[PathofTotality]

08:19 AM on 01/04/2011

I saw where one of the scientists name was Muad'Dib!!

Not to be a party pooper but what about the balance of things....assuming this goes full scale?

[JacksonJones]

11:10 AM on 01/04/2011

Balance or no balance, the spice must flow.

[sunmocker1970]

09:22 AM on 01/05/2011

and just what do the Freman have to say about this?

"Shai-Hulud"...

[slvrfox857]

06:34 AM on 01/04/2011

Don Henley's song "Paradise," from "Hotel California" springs to mind.

[Josh RageLyfe]

06:24 AM on 01/04/2011

Is the UAE trying to channel Lil Wayne?

[Ramyeon]

05:59 AM on 01/04/2011

Didn't they do this at Woodstock?

[southingtonian]

05:48 AM on 01/04/2011

It appears Mark Twain's quote has become passé.

[leftheaded]

05:45 AM on 01/04/2011

Te US has been doing this on a much larger scale for a long time. See HAARP, for more info.

[Alfern Webb]

04:16 AM on 01/04/2011

Is that the same technology used in the movie "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs"?

[topguide]

03:43 AM on 01/04/2011

Interesting technology. I'm wondering how they plan to collect the rain water given most of it must be running off back into the sea

[blutigeroo]

06:15 AM on 01/04/2011

It must be coming from the sea in the first place as well.
Dams?