Environment

The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), managed by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), has announced the recipients of its Sixth Cycle research grants, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to advancing innovative, science-based solutions for water security and climate resilience.

Each awarded project will receive funding of up to US$1.5 million over three years, with a maximum annual allocation of US$550,000. The grants support cutting-edge research that enhances understanding of rainfall processes and develops practical approaches to rain enhancement.

The Sixth Cycle awardees are:

• Dr. Dixon Michael, Principal Radar Meteorologist and Software Engineer at Echo Science Works, USA, for “Advancing Cloud Seeding Science with Dual-Polarization Radar Signatures and AI”.

• Prof. Linda Zou, Adjunct Professor at Victoria University, Australia, for “AI-assisted Development and Optimization of Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding Materials”.

• Dr. Oliver Branch, Senior Scientist at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, for “Rainfall Enhancement through Modification of Land Cover and Land Form (RAINLAND)”.

His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization and Director General of NCM, said the programme continues to strengthen its role as a global platform for applied research and scientific collaboration. He noted that UAEREP reflects the UAE’s approach of investing in practical innovation supported by advanced infrastructure and operational expertise to deliver real-world impact.

Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of UAEREP and Director of the Research and Weather Enhancement Department at NCM, said the selected proposals demonstrated strong scientific merit and practical relevance. She added that the programme’s technical resources and international partnerships will help translate research outcomes into solutions that support water security and climate resilience.

Dr. Michael’s project focuses on improving the evaluation of cloud seeding impacts beyond traditional radar reflectivity methods. By enhancing the LROSE/TITAN system with dual-polarization radar and artificial intelligence, the research aims to better capture microphysical processes and strengthen NCM’s long-term operational capabilities.

Prof. Zou’s research will concentrate on developing advanced nanocomposite ice-nucleating materials for cloud seeding. The project will use AI-driven analytics and data from a Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment (PINE) cloud chamber, which will be deployed at NCM during the final phase of the study, to optimise material performance.

Dr. Branch’s RAINLAND project will adopt a combined theory, observation and simulation approach to examine how land-cover and land-form modifications can trigger moist convection. The research seeks to identify optimal land designs and locations that could enhance rainfall in arid environments such as the UAE.

Together, the Sixth Cycle projects underscore UAEREP’s role in advancing innovative rain enhancement research with the potential to deliver long-term environmental and societal benefits.

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