Precipitation Enhancement
The modern technology of cloud modification using ecologically innocuous reagents, aimed at precipitation enhancement, is now becoming ever more popular as the way to solve the problem of freshwater deficiency. An effective technology of precipitation enhancement and equipment required for its realization, have been developed by Roshydromet. This technology is based on both the results of experimental studies, carried out at specialized proving grounds in Moldova, Povolzhye, and on Cuba, and experimental operations over large areas in Russia Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Cuba, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Syria, Portugal and Iran. It ensures 100% precipitation enhancement directly in the zone of cloud seeding and up to 15-30% seasonal precipitation.
The high efficiency of the Russian technology achieved by means of cloud glaciogenic with controllable rotes, specifying of cloud groups, which seeding would yield positive results, and using specially developed technical means which provides injection of reagent to the proper part of a cloud.
Seeding of clouds which have reached a certain stage of their development, when an optimum concentration of artificial ice particles is provided, leads to an increase in cloud thickness, width, lifetime, and, therefore, to the enhancement of precipitation from these clouds.
The Russian technology and equipment for precipitation enhancement operations had been successfully used during 1991-1997 in the Syrian Arab Republic and now is used in Islamic Republic of Iran . As a result of this work, Syria got on average over 3 cubic kilometers of additional water during winter season (December - March). The similar results were received upon artificial increase of precipitations in Iran (1999-2001гг) and demonstration project in Portugal (1999г).
According to evaluation of experts, prime cost of an additional water for various our projects changes insignificantly and is about 0.3 US cent per 1 cubic meter. The ratio of economical benefits to the annual expenses for such a project is of 10:1, what agree well with the same of many other well known precipitation enhancement projects in the world.