Iran plans to launch a new round of cloud seeding from November as experts forecast a decrease in precipitation in the autumn, the head of Iran's Cloud Seeding Research Center, Mohammad Mehdi Javadian, said.
He added that the seeding operation can begin in early November once required funds are made available by the end of October, ISNA reported.
He noted that over $3 billion will be required for seeding clouds over a six-month period. Cloud seeding can increase precipitation by 10 to 15% in the target region, Javadian added.
Cloud seeding, a form of weather modification, changes the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud.
The most common chemicals used for cloud seeding include silver iodide, potassium iodide and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).
Iran carried out cloud seeding operations in a number of provinces including Yazd, Kerman, Fars, Isfahan, West Azerbaijan, East Azarbaijan and Tehran last year.
The country currently has two special aircraft capable of carrying out the project, and there are plans to get the total amount of aircraft up to five in the next four years, Iranian Daily reports.
