UAE rain enhancement programme delegates visit leading European institutions

ABU DHABI, 27th September, 2016 (WAM) -- A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, UAEREP, has participated in a two-week European research cooperation visit to promote the country's ground-breaking initiative and exchange innovative ideas on rain enhancement, in efforts to encourage deeper collaboration in this promising field of atmospheric research.

The roadshow to promote the programme included visits to Bologna and Trieste in Italy, as well as Stuttgart and Karlsruhe in Germany and Brussels in Belgium. The UAE delegation met with over 38 scientists and researchers from several climatology research groups across scientific disciplines such as atmospheric modeling, cloud physics, dynamics and chemistry, aerosol science, earth sciences, hydrology and geology. The team also interacted with 15 government entities, universities and research facilities across Italy, Germany and Belgium.

Led by Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, Director of the UAE National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, NCMS, the delegation comprised Omar Al Yazeedi, Director of Research, Development and Training, Mohamed Al Mheiri, Head of Media and Marketing Services and Sufian Farrah, Senior Forecaster at NCMS.

While in Belgium, the UAE delegation met with top representatives from the Office of the United Nations in the Belgian capital, Brussels, as well as from the European Commission's Directorates General for Climate Action, Environment and International Cooperation, to discuss the concrete applications of cloud-seeding for the benefit of population in arid and semi-arid regions and beyond.

Antoine Saintraint, Head of Water Sector at the European Commission Directorate-General for International Co-operation and Development, said, "The European Union is committed to promoting water security internally and at a global level, and over the years, we have forged many successful international water partnerships. The UAE is known for its efficiency in water management, and hence could play an important role in capacity building beyond the borders of the Union and in promoting excellence in research globally."

Speaking on the outcome of UAEREP delegation's visit to Europe, Dr. Al Mandoos, said, "Such international research co-operation visits are of vital importance to UAEREP. This year again, we are seeking to establish close research co-operation with top scientists from around the world, inviting them to join the UAE's efforts to tackle the growing challenges of global water security. We are encouraged to see the rising awareness and appreciation for our programme at all the places we have visited. Clearly, with its ever-increasing geographical reach, UAEREP reflects the pioneering role played by the United Arab Emirates in advancing water security globally."

In Italy, the delegation met with researchers from influential climatology research groups of the National Research Council and the University of Bologna.

During its visit to Germany, the delegation visited some of the most prominent scientific and research organisations in the country, such as the University of Hohenheim and its Institute of Physics and Meteorology, and the Atmospheric Aerosol Research division of Karlsruhe Institute of Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research.

Alya Al Mazroui, Manager of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, explained, "The programme has considerably broadened its scope of interests over the years, from aircraft technology to seeding materials, modeling and fundamental scientific understanding of subjects from the growth of water droplets to precipitation mechanisms. Through continuously engaging with stakeholders in Europe, Asia, and the US, our aim is to reach beyond the rain enhancement community, and ultimately find and support the most innovative solutions in this field."