Is artificial rain the answer to Karachi's heatwave?
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KARACHI: The government of Pakistan has been considering the option of ‘artificial rain’ to provide Karachi’s citizens some respite from the searing heatwave that has devastated the metropolis, claiming in excess of 500 lives.
But how do you get artificial rain? Basically, a combination of chemicals is sprinkled on normal clouds— a practice called “cloud seeding”— which induces rainfall, though the same process has been used in some places to prevent hail and fog.
The practice is very common in China, where dangerously high levels of air pollution put residents at risk, which is why the government frequently uses induced rain to bring down pollution levels.
To discuss the possibility of induced rain in Pakistan, a high-level meeting was held in Karachi on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Abdul Malik Ghauri, director general ports and shipping.
Mr. Ghauri had also invited Met Department experts and other concerned officers, civil society representatives and traders to attended the meeting.
The meeting was told that the met office was capable of creating artificial rain and that it had been done before in Pakistan.
Mr. Ghauri, while talking to Dawn.com, said inducing rain in Karachi was not an immediate possibility.
Quoting weather experts, he said from the 10 types of known clouds, only three support artificial rain, which are not available in Karachi at the moment.
But he said the met office was on the lookout for favourable clouds and as soon as it became possible, rain will be induced in Karachi.
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On DawnNews
Comments (36) Closed
Jun 23, 2015 07:10pm
Before inducing ‘artificial rain’ upon Karachi, the good and bad should be discussed and possible effects revealed to the citizen of the city.
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Jun 23, 2015 07:21pm
Government should do its best to save our brothers and sisters dying everyday. The idea of artificial rain is a remarkable step to alleviate the misery of Karachiites.
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Jun 23, 2015 07:22pm
The correct answer is, provision of water and electricity and not artificial rain.
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Jun 23, 2015 07:27pm
Simple solution to defeat hot weather, provide uninterrupted power & water. Gulf countries faces 50 C degree plus in peak summer time but because sufficient potable water & uninterrupted power supplies nothing happens. We have Arabian sea at our door step why no body talks of water desalination plant that will also produce electricity, only one factor seems negative in this Water tanker mafia together with some sold out officials will not allow this in Karachi. In DHA a desalination plant rusted but the mafia did not allow its installation & operation. This can be verified.
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Jun 23, 2015 07:31pm
"afforestation" is the real answer for all such natural havoc.
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Jun 23, 2015 07:44pm
Both India and Pakistan need solutions to extreme weather problems: too much rain (floods/waterlogging) or too little (drought). The root cause should be tackled: not enough greenery. Gimmicks like sending Narmada water to Ahmedabad to recreate the Sabarmati waterfront won't help. Steps should be taken to revive the Sabarmati and other rivers.
As for Karachi, I wonder if fog catching as they do in Chile and Peru might be possible.
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Jun 23, 2015 08:40pm
@Khan The poor can't afford electricity- Thats the problem
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Jun 23, 2015 09:29pm
If inducing 'artificial rain' possible in Karachi, why not at Tharparkar where last four no rain fall recorded that resulted in the death of thousand innocent both children & elders. Similarly their cattles are received huge sufferings. Having said that government needs to take extraordinary measure to deal with on going disastrous situation created due to heat stroke. On other hand if such situation would have been predicted by the concerned authorities there would not be lose of innocent lives. In interior Sindh where normally temperature remains 45 plus during summer especially Dadu, Larkana & Jacobabd district where death becomes routine neither govt take notice because most of the time these deaths never get reported. But it high time for govt & concerned authorities to take serious notice of the worsening situation. They should start with putting ban on chopping of trees which seems their less priority areas. A lot can be done with a lillte sincerity.
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Jun 23, 2015 09:38pm
They are not serious and the meeting was for the purpose of diverting the attention from the current tragedy.
We are master of fooling the nation.All was stage to claim TA/DA.
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Jun 23, 2015 10:13pm
It could be a Temporary solution but can't be a permanent solution. Increasing Forest areas and Planting Hundreds of thousands of trees is a better and longlasting solution
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Jun 23, 2015 10:19pm
We should not do unnatural things. Let nature take its way otherwise cranks will blame US for having a hand in creating catastrophes. Like one well known scientist putting the blame on America for the earthquakes in Pakistan.
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Jun 23, 2015 10:22pm
Just keep your forest protected. Don't harm environment. Than you never need chemicals to induce rain.
If you can't respect Mother Nature, it will must avenge.
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Jun 23, 2015 10:24pm
The citizens need electricity and water. If they have electricity, they can use fans or any other cooling devices they can afford. If they have water, they can quench their thirst. Rain will only help for a day or so, what happens after that?
The poor peoplecan go to their local mosques and use them as relief centers. Electricity is what we need the most during heat waves.
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Jun 23, 2015 11:11pm
They have gone crazy
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Jun 23, 2015 11:19pm
You cheat nature, it responds....
HOW is the tricky part !
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Jun 23, 2015 11:26pm
i am too much cleared that in Pakistan politics is a business unfortunately.even my this massage could goes to a small educated portion of country population rest does not know what is happening and why is happening.
voting right should be restricted to the educated population.who can decides on behalf of the rest that "what is good and what is bad for the country"
counting peoples is not the solution.can we be leads for legislation that only educated chunk of population from the country should decide our leaders.by this i am sure for change and can find the ways to leave past.
this system only produce looters.
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Jun 23, 2015 11:44pm
I guess the real rains aren't far away now ! The other issue to be looked at is the cost of inducing rain. Can't be cheap..
Also, India is looking at this urban problem of deaths due to extreme weather. It boils down to homelessness and being forced to work for a living under extreme heat coupled with poor nutrition. Pak must also look at urban poverty issues more seriously. We cannot be a cruel bystander when a 60 yr old guy is forced to pull 200 kgs of weight in a cart or a rickshaw just because he needs 50 rupees to have a meal at the end of the day ! Rural areas still have better support systems for the poor folk. Urban poverty is cruel and just unforgiving...
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Jun 24, 2015 01:14am
We need water bring it down, now before this figure goes up
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Jun 24, 2015 01:33am
It wont work... not feasible.. it was tried in INdian state of Andhra Pradesh and flopped miserably... the politician was able to make money that's it... no valid proof that rains are due to the scientific process.. most times no rain at all..
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Jun 24, 2015 01:34am
The real problem is lack of electricity - UAE has more heat than in Pakistan but situation is not like this. Please make Nawaz, Shehbaz, Khawaja Asif, CM Sindh and other PMLN champions accountable.
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Jun 24, 2015 01:54am
How about give them clean unlimited water and electricity til the heat goes away???
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Jun 24, 2015 01:54am
Karachiites surely need artificial rain; at least they will be able to catch and store some water for domestic use. Tanker mafia wouldn't like these plans though.
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Jun 24, 2015 01:58am
UAE Met department has a cloud seeding wing. They could send their airplane when needed. Thanks to cloud seeding they are having regular rains.
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Jun 24, 2015 02:35am
doing so will attract clouds from all over the globe and cause heavy rain and floods.
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Jun 24, 2015 02:57am
@a good comment. Well said
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Jun 24, 2015 03:40am
@khan this is one of the best and controversial responses i have ever heard #ORIGINAL COMMENT (i am too much cleared that in Pakistan politics is a business unfortunately.even my this massage could goes to a small educated portion of country population rest does not know what is happening and why is happening. voting right should be restricted to the educated population.who can decides on behalf of the rest that "what is good and what is bad for the country" counting peoples is not the solution.can we be leads for legislation that only educated chunk of population from the country should decide our leaders.by this i am sure for change and can find the ways to leave past. this system only produce looters.)
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Jun 24, 2015 04:51am
@KARACHI WALA Like that's going to happen....Sarcaism
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Jun 24, 2015 05:39am
This artificial rain might help the people of Karachi..but despite of these they need electricity, water etc...so that if there would no rain they could then atleast live...
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Jun 24, 2015 06:53am
First make artificial clouds
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Jun 24, 2015 10:14am
Why do we always seek the most expensive solution to any problem. Aside from the worry about the effect of the chemicals on the health of organisms, the expense of cloud seeding is enormous. It is expensive to deliver the chemicals to the sky and have these released into the air.
Go for water desalination-cum-power generation plant. It would be surer since seeding can only be done when there are clouds. Baluchistan government had experimented with artificial rain in the eighties, but when seeded, the clouds would often deliver the rain in Mianwali area instead of Zhob.
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Jun 24, 2015 11:30am
Nature is telling us something!!!!! even the clouds will not help.... Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
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Jun 24, 2015 11:55am
@Khan And also awareness, education and elimination of poverty and the corrupt politicians.
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Jun 24, 2015 12:58pm
Talk of artificial rain is just abracadabra where water and electricity is precious commodity.
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Jun 24, 2015 01:02pm
Where are the solar panels? Instead of roasting human life, they should be roasting solar panels to produce electricity. Please have mercy on people of Karachi and Sindh.
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Jun 24, 2015 01:54pm
Death toll is increasing, still indecision!
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Jun 24, 2015 02:13pm
As per Khawaja Asif, its not Federal government's fault and they have no jurisdiction over K-Electric. I suggest three very simple solutions for this problem:
1. Create artificial rain. This will suppress the issue for now, and reduce the heat wave.
2. Create an alternative of K-electric. This can be done immediately by combining the IPPs together, and provide them a good incentive based on a robust business strategy plan. Every one want to be a winner and take over things from the other. Take this problem as an opportunity to create an alternative immediately. Developed countries have alternative power supply firms and customer can choose from them.
3. Remove Sindh government (atleast they have power to do so, dont they?) and impose a strong care taker who has a strategic mind and who will fix problems. I guess the issues between PPP and PMLN are such that the government should utilize this opportunity to take things over...IF only the government has a WILL to do so.
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