NEW DELHI: A powerful storm battered the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week, unleashing record-breaking rainfall that submerged highways, inundated homes, grid-locked traffic, and left residents stranded.
In Oman, at least 20 fatalities were reported due to the deluge, while another casualty was recorded in the UAE. The torrential downpour in the UAE forced the closure of government offices and schools for several days, compounding the disruption.
Originating in Oman on Sunday, the storm intensified as it swept across the UAE on Tuesday, causing power outages and significant disruptions to air travel, with runways resembling waterways.
Al Ain, a city bordering Oman, experienced an unprecedented 254 millimetres (10 inches) of rainfall within a 24-hour period, marking the highest recorded rainfall since monitoring began in 1949.
Did cloud seeding cause the storm?
Speculation arose about whether cloud seeding, a practice frequently employed by the UAE to augment rainfall, might have triggered the intense precipitation. However, the UAE’s meteorology agency denied conducting any such operations preceding the storm.
Did climate change cause the extreme rainfall?
Experts suggest that while the region typically experiences arid conditions, the extreme rainfall was likely exacerbated by climate change. Esraa Alnaqbi, a senior forecaster at the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology, explained that a combination of atmospheric pressure dynamics and temperature differentials facilitated the formation of the potent thunderstorm.
Climate scientists emphasize that rising global temperatures, attributable to human-induced climate change, are amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide, including heavy rainfall.
Regarding the role of cloud seeding, experts clarify that it cannot generate clouds ex nihilo but rather accelerates the condensation process within existing moisture-laden clouds. The warmer atmosphere associated with climate change enhances moisture retention, leading to intensified rainfall.
As warmer air temperatures and sea surface temperatures persist, the potential for more significant rainfall events, such as those witnessed in the UAE and Oman, is heightened. Consequently, experts warn of the increasing likelihood of extreme rainfall events globally due to the impacts of climate change.
In Oman, at least 20 fatalities were reported due to the deluge, while another casualty was recorded in the UAE. The torrential downpour in the UAE forced the closure of government offices and schools for several days, compounding the disruption.
Originating in Oman on Sunday, the storm intensified as it swept across the UAE on Tuesday, causing power outages and significant disruptions to air travel, with runways resembling waterways.
Al Ain, a city bordering Oman, experienced an unprecedented 254 millimetres (10 inches) of rainfall within a 24-hour period, marking the highest recorded rainfall since monitoring began in 1949.
Did cloud seeding cause the storm?
Speculation arose about whether cloud seeding, a practice frequently employed by the UAE to augment rainfall, might have triggered the intense precipitation. However, the UAE’s meteorology agency denied conducting any such operations preceding the storm.
Did climate change cause the extreme rainfall?
Experts suggest that while the region typically experiences arid conditions, the extreme rainfall was likely exacerbated by climate change. Esraa Alnaqbi, a senior forecaster at the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology, explained that a combination of atmospheric pressure dynamics and temperature differentials facilitated the formation of the potent thunderstorm.
Climate scientists emphasize that rising global temperatures, attributable to human-induced climate change, are amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide, including heavy rainfall.
Regarding the role of cloud seeding, experts clarify that it cannot generate clouds ex nihilo but rather accelerates the condensation process within existing moisture-laden clouds. The warmer atmosphere associated with climate change enhances moisture retention, leading to intensified rainfall.
As warmer air temperatures and sea surface temperatures persist, the potential for more significant rainfall events, such as those witnessed in the UAE and Oman, is heightened. Consequently, experts warn of the increasing likelihood of extreme rainfall events globally due to the impacts of climate change.
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