Italian Media: Artificial Rainmaking in Kazakhstan (and Kyrgyzstan's Concerns)
Under the technical support of the UAE, the government of Astana has become the first in Central Asia to trial a cloud seeding system, aiming to provide moisture for farmland during dry seasons. However, former Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan has issued a warning: artificial rainfall in one region may have adverse effects on the climate of another.
Astana (Asia News) – Kazakhstan has conducted its first use of artificial rainmaking technology in the southern region. The government states that this trial integrates global drought-resistance experience. Meanwhile, neighboring Kyrgyzstan expresses concern that these experiments could negatively impact the ecological systems across Central Asia. In May this year, Kazakhstan launched an artificial rainmaking project in the Turkistan Region, aimed at providing water for 911,000 hectares of farmland.
Kazakhstan is implementing this innovative technology in collaboration with the UAE National Meteorological Center. Artificial rainmaking refers to the process of transforming clouds into precipitation, known in English as "cloud seeding." Clouds are composed of tiny water droplets that are too light to form raindrops and thus remain suspended in the air. When silver iodide is sprayed into the atmosphere by aircraft, the water droplets solidify and form ice crystals around them. These ice crystals gradually grow heavier and eventually fall as rain or snow.
Scientists remain divided on the effectiveness of this technology; while some consider it highly useful in scenarios such as forest fire prevention and protecting crops from hail, it is not recommended for combating prolonged droughts. Artificial rainmaking has already been applied in certain tropical countries—for example, Thailand, where reported projects helped save rice crops from drought conditions. In Jordan, a desert nation with limited or no cloud cover, the technology cannot be used. China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and France also employ similar techniques.
Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia to implement this technology. Following the announcement of the program, political figures and scientists in neighboring Kyrgyzstan voiced concerns. Former Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov wrote on Facebook that artificial precipitation in one area might negatively affect the climate of another: "Mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to such changes, and Kyrgyzstan is among the leading countries in the region regarding water reserves. Our glaciers are melting rapidly. Rivers, lakes, and water balance directly depend on the hydrological cycle, temperature, and precipitation. If weather modification technologies are widely adopted in this region, the consequences could be long-term and impact the entire Central Asian ecosystem."
According to Mansur Oshurbayev, Deputy Minister of Ecology of Kazakhstan, artificial precipitation is an environmentally friendly and harmless measure that does not cause droughts in other regions. He noted that Kazakhstan is collaborating with representatives from the World Meteorological Organization to implement this method. On May 15, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Abdullah Al-Mandous, Chairman of the UN agency and Director of the UAE National Meteorological Center, in Turkistan. Both parties emphasized the importance of developing early warning systems, modernizing meteorological infrastructure, and expanding scientific data exchange.
Although official Kazakh media have strongly praised the benefits of this initiative, local scientists have expressed serious concerns. According to Bulat Essekin, coordinator of the Central Asian Water Management Expert Platform, the impacts of this technology have not been sufficiently studied, and therefore should be used cautiously: "When your neighbor starts renovation work—like replacing a roof or flooring—people usually worry about potential side effects. Kazakhstan has signed the Convention on Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment, committing to consultation and scientific evaluation before undertaking any project that might affect neighboring regions." Currently, no relevant documents exist. A binding international legal framework governing artificial rainmaking is needed. Experts believe the absence of legal oversight could lead to diplomatic tensions over time.
Sources: Central Asia News
Author: Vladimir Rozanskij
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867577981366601/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author