Big Weather Experiment. Scientists in Neware trying something quite unusual to tackle the city’s heavy smog: they want to make it rain on purpose. Yep, they plan to sprinkle certain stuff into clouds from planes to make it rain and hopefully wash away the pollution hanging in the air.
How’s This Plan Gonna Work?
They call it “cloud seeding.” The Delhi government and scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur are joining forces to do this. They’re waiting for the thumbs-up from higher-ups and are hoping to start this cool project real soon.
Bad Air Quality Is a Big Problem
Delhi’s air quality is in a real mess. It’s been ranked as the world’s most polluted city recently, especially when these tiny harmful particles, PM2.5, shoot up past 400 in November. That’s seriously bad for the 30 million people living there.
The Health Impact is Huge
Some smart people say air pollution is cutting more than five years off the life of an average Indian. If pollution levels drop to what the World Health Organization says is safe, folks in Delhi could potentially live 12 years longer, according to a study from the University of Chicago.
The Debate on Cloud Seeding
While some think this cloud seeding idea is pretty cool, others aren’t so sure. Some folks reckon it’s a quick fix politicians turn to when they need to look like they’re doing something about pollution.
Looking at China’s Cloud Story
China’s been using cloud seeding for a while, especially during big events like the Beijing coin303. But experts think Delhi’s plan is more like a last-ditch effort, a bit desperate because nothing else seems to be working well.
Why Delhi’s So Polluted
The air pollution in India’s capital comes from all sorts of things—factories, cars, even burning crop leftovers from nearby areas. And hey, the Diwali fireworks also made things worse recently.
Still Searching for a Real Solution
People in charge are scratching their heads trying to find a permanent fix for the air pollution mess. So now, they’re thinking of making it rain on purpose to clear the smog.