Recent cloud-seeding experiments conducted in Delhi have shown promising results in reducing particulate matter, according to an official government report. Despite facing less-than-ideal atmospheric conditions, the trials successfully lowered levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in targeted areas.
The report highlights that two precipitation events occurred in Noida and Greater Noida following the cloud-seeding efforts. Specifically, Noida received 0.1 mm of rain around 4 PM, while Greater Noida recorded 0.2 mm during the same period.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) data indicated low moisture content, between 10-15%, which is typically not conducive for artificial rain generation. However, the report suggests these conditions were valuable for assessing the efficacy of seeding materials in low-moisture environments.
To evaluate the impact of the trials, data from 20 locations were collected to monitor air quality, focusing on PM2.5 and PM10 levels.
Before the first seeding, PM2.5 levels were reported as 221 in Mayur Vihar, 230 in Karol Bagh, and 229 in Burari. These figures dropped to 207, 206, and 203, respectively, after the seeding process.
Similarly, PM10 levels, initially recorded at 207, 206, and 209 in Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and Burari, decreased to 177, 163, and 177.
The report attributes the reduction in particulate matter to the increased moisture content caused by seeding particles, which aided in settling them down, even though wind activity was minimal during the trials.
The first trial utilized a Cessna aircraft that departed from the IIT Kanpur airstrip at 12:13 PM on Tuesday, covering areas including Khekra, Burari, North Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, Sadakpur, and Bhojpur.
A second trial was carried out from the Meerut airstrip. The aircraft, loaded with four kilograms of seeding material, commenced seeding at 3:45 PM. The initial seeding point was Khekra, followed by Burari, Mayur Vihar, Pavi Sadakpur, Noida, Bhojpur, Modinagar, and Meerut. The aircraft returned to the Meerut airstrip by 4:45 PM.