ADSW 2018 to host 2nd International Forum on Rain Enhancement Science
- January 3, 2018
- Posted by: administrator
- Category: Conferences, Asia
The United Arab Emirates Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) is set to celebrate three years of outstanding achievements that have positioned the programme as a global leader at the forthcoming Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2018.
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the winners of the Third Cycle of the programme will be announced on 17th January at an exclusive ceremony held as part of ADSW at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director of the National Centre of Meteorology, said:
“Over the years, our programme has grown to the extent that it is now truly global in size, scale and substance. In doing so, it has enabled the UAE to gain significant international recognition in its quest to become a hub for knowledge and excellence in the science and technology of rain enhancement.
“By taking a global lead in advancing this crucially important scientific field, the UAE has once again demonstrated its inspiring and generous vision and commitment to seeking innovative solutions for those confronting the challenge of water stress.”
ADSW 2018 to host 2nd International Forum on Rain Enhancement Science
ADSW 2018 will also host the second edition of the International Forum on Rain Enhancement Science from 16th to 18th January, 2018. The forum provides a platform to discuss the newly awarded Third Cycle research projects and overview the progress and recent advances made by the First and Second Cycle projects. Last year’s event brought together leading international experts to exchange insights on the latest research in the field.
Alya Mazroui, Director of the UAE Research programme for Rain Enhancement Science, commented:
“Since its inception, our programme has reached out to engage actively with an international audience of scientists and research institutions and established a global hub of research and excellence in rain enhancement. Our awardees are already paving the way for the application of new science and technologies in regions facing water stress around the world. Through the UAE Research programme for Rain Enhancement Science, we will continue to drive the innovation needed for the solutions that will ensure a better quality of life for all at risk of water stress in arid regions around the world.”
Program aims to advance scientific understanding via knowledge of cloud formation & precipitation
By offering an annual award of US $ 5 million to up to five research proposals submitted by successful awardees, the UAE Research Program aims to advance scientific understanding in this field through new knowledge of cloud formation, precipitation, and other relevant physical processes.
The Program venture is overseen by the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) in Abu Dhabi, which plays a key role in leading national studies of climate and environmental phenomena and keeping track of local weather conditions through a national network of air stations and radar.
The NCM is actively helping the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) fulfil its mandate as a specialized agency of the United Nations to foster collaborative study and monitoring of the Earth’s atmosphere, the interaction of climate with land and oceans, and the impact these processes have on global water resources.
Effective enhancement of primary rainfall could offer an ‘ocean in the sky’
In the face of the increasingly urgent challenge of water scarcity, advances in the science and technology of rain enhancement are offering an increasingly viable and technically feasible method of replenishing and boosting existing water supplies.
Total global demand for water is expected to increase by 55 per cent by 2050, by which time up to 40 per cent of the world’s population could be living with severe water stress.
Effective enhancement of primary rainfall could offer an ‘ocean in the sky’ to be tapped for groundwater recharge and the provision of fresh water for consumption as a supplement to traditional energy-intensive methods for producing water such as desalination.
To date 1,220 researchers and 520 institutions from more than 50 countries have been involved in the innovative UAE initiative.
The Program’s awardees are already breaking new ground in developing new scientific and technological methods that will be applicable to regions subject to water stress around the world.
Click here to visit the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science website