India’s capital is trying to make it rain on demand.
What happened: This week, Delhi’s regional government had its first trial of cloud seeding — the practice of dispersing particles of silver iodide in clouds to artificially produce rain — in a bid to improve poor air quality. The trial produced basically no rain, but Delhi will try again.
Why it’s happening: India’s capital has arguably the world’s worst air quality, particularly in winter when smog hangs heavy as winds weaken and the air stays stagnant.
- A 2023 study estimated that the 30 million people living in and around Delhi could have almost a dozen years taken off of their lives due to impacts from air pollution.
Catch-up: Cloud seeding is not a new technique, but it is having a moment as a way to disperse pollutants with rain. Pakistan also trialled cloud seeding in Lahore to improve air quality in 2023. The trial successfully lowered pollution levels, but results were short lived.
Yes, but: Cloud seeding has faced heavy criticism from scientists who warn against the practice’s unpredictability — it can spur adverse meteorological events like floods or blizzards — and pointing out that it’s a (literal) silver bullet solution, not a long-term option.
Why it matters: Persistent air pollution is a growing, deadly problem globally as smoke from raging forest fires fill the summer air (Canada is just one example). While a quick fix for improving air quality is attractive, only systemic changes will actually solve the issue.—QH