Turkey to make rain with desert dust

[Al-khiyal]

August 25, 2007 -- The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government has stepped up efforts to resolve the drought that has affected Turkey, one of the countries hit hardest by global warming.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Güler announced that the government has launched initiatives for comprehensive studies to resolve the drought and water shortage problems that have struck many cities, including Ankara, whose residents have suffered more than any other. “If precipitation is low in the fall, the ministry will look into producing rain by inserting desert powder into clouds,” the minister said and noted they would not look into a rain bomb because it could damage the natural environment.

The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, the ministries of health and agriculture, the State Waterworks General Directorate (DSI) and the Meteorological Service are working together to find a solution for Turkey’s prolonged water shortage problem. The municipalities of Adana, Konya, Ankara and Istanbul are also contributing to the efforts.

Minister Güler noted that the Melen Project will come into effect in the fall and resolve Istanbul’s mid-term water problem. As for the water pipeline from the Kızılırmak River to Ankara, the minister said: “There have been claims that the water from the Kızılırmak is poisonous. The locals of Kırıkkale have been using this water. The sulfate level is a little too high. But once we lower it to a certain level, there will be no problem. We have almost completed our work there.”

Once the new Cabinet is formed, Güler’s ministry is expected to be divided into two separate ministries and the DSI, which operates under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, will assume more responsibility.

“The prime minister has given information on plans to make this change. There are 16 general directorates operating under our ministry. A legal modification is necessary to restructure the ministry. Once the DSI is given a stronger position, it will be easier for us to find a long-term solution to Turkey’s water problems. I think the prime minister might be considering a Ministry of Water,” Minister Güler noted.

Desert dust from Algeria and Tunisia

While the government is continuing efforts to find permanent solutions to the problem, it is also searching for solutions to resolve the short-term water problems in large cities. After the DSI announced that precipitation in the fall would be below seasonal averages, the government stepped up efforts to prevent water cuts in the coming months. The government is planning to insert desert dust imported from Algeria and Tunisia into clouds - a process that will trigger rainfall.

Minister Güler, who is of the opinion that a rain bomb would damage the natural environment, says a project that foresees inserting desert sand into clouds is a viable option. He noted that a rain bomb implemented when Nurettin Sözen was mayor of İstanbul did not yield positive results. But if there is sufficient rainfall in the coming months, the minister said there will be no need to produce rain by inserting dust particles.

Ankara was the city most affected by the water cuts in Turkey. The Ankara Municipality invited technical experts from the Middle Eastern Technical University’s (METU), General Directorate of State Meteorological Services and a team from Austria to discuss the option of a rain bomb. The team suggested a rain bomb over Çamlıdere Dam if the drought persisted; however, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has rejected the suggestion for fear it might damage the natural environment and has asked the Municipality of Ankara to be patient until a better solution is found.

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What is desert dust?

With the smart-cloud method, dams are filled with rain water or snow. There are steam and ice crystals in clouds; the size of the ice crystals determines the type of precipitation. If ice particles are large, they cause rain in the summer and snow in the winter. You can increase the size and number of these crystals externally and then induce them with desert dust to melt the ice crystals and trigger precipitation. Desert powder is found in southern Tunisia and Algeria and is used by many countries to trigger rain.

What is a rain bomb?

This is a method of sowing chemical substances into the cloud to make precipitation. Fifteen percent of countries around the world use this method. It is most commonly used in the US state of Kansas. The one and only time it was used in Turkey was in 1993 to resolve the major water problem plaguing Istanbul. Millions of dollars were invested in pursuit of the project, which could not resolve the problem. There are concerns that rain triggered by a rain bomb could not be be stopped.

Turkey to make rain with desert dust

[Bent_Bladi]

if they put chemicals in the clouds, won't that make it rain diluted chemicals?? .... wow, and imagine not being able to stop it

[amalgamate]

wow... i never knew we could mechanically induce rain.
In Syria, if there's a drought and the farms are losing their crops, go to the masjid and you'll find it packed with worshipers all raising their arms up to Allah and praying. The MOST BEAUTIFUL duaa is said by renown sheikhs in every masjid when there is a drought in Syria.

my parents experienced it on one of their trips. they were praying behind one sheikh and it was during a time of drought, and the duaa from this sheikh was so intense and powerful, subhanallah everyone in the masjid began crying and raising their hands up to Allah, saying Ameen.

That month they were there, it did rain. It rained bucketfuls

[Bent_Bladi]

yeah, du3a2 el istisqaa2... i remember when mart 3ami went to 7aj it was the year when there was a drought and they did that du3a2 in Mekkeh and it seriously FLOODED when the 7ujaj where at mina...