Weather Modification in India

Abstract

Experiments on artificial stimulation of clouds using warm cloud seeding technique have been conducted, on randomized basis, from ground for 4 monsoon periods at Jaipur, 6 monsoon periods at Agra and 9 monsoon periods at Delhi, in North India. The seedings were also conducted from aircraft, during one monsoon period at Delhi. Orographic clouds have been seeded for two summer seasons at Munnar in South India. Results have been evaluated on the basis of rainfall amounts obtainedd from raingauges in the respective target and control sectors in each region. Evaluation has also been done on the basis of data obtained by high power microwave radar in the case of a few series of trials conducted at Delhi. A net increase in precipitation was suggested in each area as a result of seeing. The percentage increase in rainfall as a result of ground-based seeding varied from 18.6 to 58.5 according to the area. Statistical evaluation indicated that the results obtained could be significant.