Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Air force has a new mission: seed clouds and combat drought

The Mexican air force has been assigned a new mission: seeding clouds in an effort to combat the prolonged drought.

The drought has affected as much as 85% of Mexico’s territory since July last year, leaving large reservoirs at exceptionally low levels, straining water resources for drinking, farming, and irrigation.

As of May 31 the area affected had declined to 72% due to rainfall in many parts of the country. However, areas facing extreme or exceptional drought conditions — located in Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Colima and Michoacán —increased due to a shortage of rain.

Cloud seeding thickens clouds and increases the probability of rain by up to 15%, using an acetone solution and silver iodide, which is commonly used as an antiseptic or in photography.

The chemical, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, is transported by plane to clouds at 5,000 meters high.
Air force pilot Guadalupe Rojas explained the method.

“When we arrive at the area, we do a preliminary reconnaissance before starting the seeding. The type of clouds is analyzed, and once safety is guaranteed, we take an entry point and enter below the cloud. We search for any ascending currents and spread the chemical,” he said.

The process was tested last March in the San Quintín Valley, Baja California, and later in Nuevo León and Coahuila to help battle fires resulting from the drought.

Air force meteorology expert Francisco Ramírez said the operation is weather dependent. “We always need adequate weather conditions. In the case of Nuevo León there was a fire, but a cold spell helped and … [the cloud seeding] worked,” he said.

He added that the operation will continue in Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Sonora, where the drought remains prevalent.

With reports from Milenio

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Clara Brugada behind a podium at Bloomberg CityLab 2024 in Mexico City, in the middle of a speech.

‘It’s time for women,’ CDMX Mayor Clara Brugada tells Bloomberg summit

0
Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada told the audience at Bloomberg CityLab on Tuesday that her government plans to prioritize gender equality.
IMF headquarters closeup photo with logo of the IMF in the center of the picture

IMF reduces Mexico’s growth forecast for 2024 and 2025

0
The IMF's GDP growth forecasts are just the latest in a recent trend of pessimistic growth predictions for Mexico by major financial institutions  
Young woman on a crowded street wearing a white, knitted winter hat with a pom pom and a white scarf and looking downward.

Cold fronts cool down central Mexico; wet weather continues in Yucatán

0
The Yucatán and Mexico's southern coastal states will see heavy rainfall this week, while freezing temps are heading for northern and central Mexico.