Abu Dhabi-UAE: 10 December 2024 – Known for its achievements in advancing rainfall enhancement and driving innovative solutions to strengthen global water security, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) has started its participation in the upcoming AGU24, the premier annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union taking place from December 9 to 13, 2024, in Washington D.C.

AGU24 brings together leading experts in earth and space sciences from around the globe to discuss topics ranging from climate change to innovative technologies and collaborative research efforts shaping the future of our planet.

A key objective of the UAEREP's participation at AGU24 is to promote its 6th Cycle Solicitation Document, as the event will offer a vital platform to engage scientists, researchers, and experts in rain enhancement science. The program aims to encourage high-quality proposals by highlighting the 6th Cycle's strategic thrust areas and inviting innovative solutions to address global water challenges.

His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), remarked: 'The UAEREP's participation at AGU24 reflects the UAE's unwavering commitment to pioneering innovative solutions for global water scarcity through advanced science and technology. By leveraging the knowledge shared at such global events, we aim to strengthen our network of scientists and researchers, driving progress in global water security and climate resilience.'

He continued: 'Through the UAEREP, we are dedicated to empowering researchers worldwide to develop and propose groundbreaking solutions that enhance rain enhancement efficiency and broaden the scope of efforts to tackle water scarcity. This commitment mirrors the UAE's forward-thinking vision to advance water security and climate action, aligning with both local and international sustainability goals.'

Through a best-in-class approach to research and the translation of science into deployable technology, the UAEREP is transforming how we address critical water and environmental challenges. As part of its thought leadership in this area, the program will convene a session titled 'Exploring the Interplay of Weather Modification and Climate Intervention: Modeling, Observations, and Field Campaigns' on Monday and Tuesday, 9-10 December 2024. The session will investigate the intricate intersections of weather modification and climate intervention techniques, particularly focusing on uncertainties related to aerosol-cloud interactions and their implications for climate impacts and side effects.

Convened by Robert Wood from the University of Washington, Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAEREP, Youssef Wehbe, Chief Science Officer at the UAEREP and Isabelle Steinke from Delft University of Technology, the session will present a total of 21 abstracts (oral and poster presentations) from 80+ authors across 40+ leading industry, government and academic entities, including the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Desert Research Institute Reno, National Center for Atmospheric Research, NASA Langley Research Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and Columbia University.

The UAEREP will also receive researchers, students and AGU24's attendees at its pavilion in the exhibition area of the event. The pavilion will highlight the program's alignment with UAE's vision for global leadership in bridging the gap between science and society, pioneering new methods to enhance water security and contributing to the worldwide efforts to mitigate environmental threats. The UAEREP delegates will brief the visitors on the upcoming new award cycle which focuses on five main thrust areas including: Optimized Seeding Materials, Novel Cloud Formation and/or Rain Enhancement Systems, Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Limited-Area Climate Interventions, and Advanced Models, Software, and Data.

Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAEREP, said: 'At AGU24, the UAEREP aims to showcase its pioneering achievements in rain enhancement research while promoting the 6th Cycle Solicitation Document to engage global experts and attract high-quality proposals that align with its strategic priorities. By fostering collaborations with leading academic, industry, and government institutions, the UAEREP continues to advance its mission of enhancing water security through innovative research. These efforts will expand the program's global reach, increase its impact, and reinforce its role in addressing water scarcity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.'

The UAEREP's participation at AGU24 will also include strategic engagements with leading institutions in atmospheric and climate sciences including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), US Geological Survey (USGS), Adams Environmental Engineering Group, Purdue University's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University's School of Earth Sciences, University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, the University of Arizona's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, and the National Central University's Center for Advanced Model Research Development and Application. These meetings aim to foster collaborations that advance the science of rain enhancement and address global water security challenges.