UAEREP collaborates with DERC to advance laser-based rain enhancement science

He UAE Research Program for Rainfall Enhancement Science (UAEREP) Today I attended a project launch meeting with Dr. Guillaume Matras and his team Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) at the Technological Innovation Institute (TII), the winners of the 5th UAEREP grant cycle, to discuss the project schedule, the necessary technical support from the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and the progress evaluation and monitoring mechanism applied by the UAEREP secretariat.

DERC’s innovative research project, led by doctor matras and titled “Demonstration of Laser-Based Rain Triggering with Integrated Remote Sensing Technology,” seeks to evaluate and show the feasibility of inducing rain formations by creating laser-induced plasma channels within clouds.

Building on previous research, this effort involves extensive investigations and experimental work in the laboratory to understand the interactions between laser-generated plasma and atmospheric particles. At the same time, the team attempts to replicate the process in outdoor environments using a customized mobile high-power pulsed laser demonstrator (MHPPLD), augmented by a remote sensing system capable of measuring droplet size distribution (DSD) and locally probe the molecular composition of clouds. .

The initial meeting also provided context for NCM regarding the DERC research team requirements for data sharing and preparation of laboratory facilities. Meeting participants then completed a tour of DERC’s facilities at TII, offering the opportunity to discuss the equipment required and technology leveraged for the project, as well as broader areas of interest.

Alya Al Mazroui, director of UAEREP, saying,

“We are proud to witness the start of this innovative rainfall enhancement project led by Dr. Matras and his team at TII. Furthermore, UAEREP is delighted that this has occurred alongside the official announcement of the “Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative”, which aims to raise awareness of the severity of the water scarcity crisis and accelerate the pace of innovation. technology and manage the challenges it poses. “

She added,

“UAEREP is committed to supporting innovative research initiatives, which have immense potential to address global water challenges. We look forward to collaborating closely with Dr. Matras, pooling our joint experience and ensuring the success of this project. “We are confident that this project will generate global research impact, leverage state-of-the-art laser-based and remote sensing technology, and advance applied research to improve rainfall.”

Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Investigator of DERC, TIIsaying,

“We had the honor of hosting UAEREP at TII this week as they kicked off this exciting project. Water scarcity is a growing challenge, but one for which we continually seek viable solutions. We are proud to support Dr. Matras and his team as they embark on this journey with the UAEREP.”

The award-winning project seeks to complement the Directed Energy Research Center with laboratories dedicated to atmospheric research in Abu Dhabi. With a component dedicated to education, this project will foster knowledge sharing and enable innovative solutions in cloud microphysics and environmental monitoring.

Dr. Matras, Senior Director of DERC High Power Lasers and Applications Department, TIIand winner of the 5th UAEREP cycle, said,

“My team and I are delighted to start working on our laser-based rainfall enhancement project at TII with the support of UAEREP. We are very proud to have been named one of the fifth cycle grant recipients and look forward to kick-starting the project, working toward our high-level field demonstrations of technology readiness. “We firmly believe that our research can positively contribute to the progress of rainfall improvement.”

The consortium led by doctor matras In addition, it includes researchers from leading institutions such as the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Institut für Strahlwerkzeuge of the University of Stuttgart. As part of its overall mission, UAEREP This project is certain to further encourage capacity building initiatives within the research community, ensuring sustained progress and knowledge sharing in the field of rainfall enhancement science.

News source: Emirates News Agency