Experts postponed the much-anticipated cloud seeding operation over Delhi on Wednesday, October 29, after detecting insufficient atmospheric moisture.
According to a statement from IIT Kanpur, the process depends heavily on precise weather conditions, particularly humidity levels.
The institute stated that the trial delivered valuable insights even though it could not trigger rainfall because moisture levels remained only at 15 to 20 per cent.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that officials will schedule the next trial once humidity levels rise above the current 10–15 per cent.
“According to the IMD, there is still 10 to 15 per cent moisture. Yesterday, our trial was conducted at 10 to 15 per cent moisture, and now the next trial will be held when the moisture exceeds that level,” he told ANI.
Sirsa said that moisture levels were likely to rise after 4:00 PM, allowing the seeding to resume thereafter.
Initial Data Shows Encouraging Results
IIT Kanpur reported that the monitoring stations deployed across Delhi recorded real-time fluctuations in particulate matter and humidity levels.
The data revealed a 6–10 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, suggesting that even under suboptimal moisture conditions, cloud seeding contributed to marginally improved air quality.
“These observations strengthen our planning for future operations and allow us to better identify conditions where this intervention can deliver maximum benefit,” IIT Kanpur noted, calling the findings “a foundation for more effective future deployments.”
The Delhi Government completed two consecutive cloud seeding operations earlier this week as part of its comprehensive air quality management strategy.
Minister Sirsa hailed the move as a science-first initiative, stating, “With this step, Delhi has taken an unprecedented scientific approach to tackle air pollution. Our focus is to assess how much rainfall can be triggered under Delhi’s real-life humidity conditions.”
An expert team from IIT Kanpur managed both sorties and launched them from airfields in Kanpur and Meerut.
The flights covered Khekra, Burari, North Karol Bagh, Mayur Vihar, Sadakpur, Bhojpur, and nearby regions. Each flare weighed about 0.5 kg, with eight flares released per sortie, dispersing a tested mixture designed to enhance precipitation potential.
Although the humidity during the trials remained below ideal levels, at 15–20 per cent, the operations yielded valuable data.
Early weather radar readings recorded light rainfall of 0.1–0.2 mm around the Delhi-Noida border at 4 PM, hinting at a minor but positive response from seeded clouds.
Measurable Decline in Pollution Levels
Preliminary data from 20 monitoring stations across Delhi showed a decline in pollution levels after seeding.
PM2.5 at Mayur Vihar, Karol Bagh, and Burari dropped from 221, 230, and 229 µg/m³ to 207, 206, and 203 µg/m³, respectively.
PM10 levels fell from 207, 206, and 209 µg/m³ to 177, 163, and 177 µg/m³.
Experts attributed the reduction to added cloud moisture and the settling of particulate matter.
Minister Sirsa said that the team would plan further cloud seeding sorties based on the ongoing data analysis.
“The results will determine whether we should plan more seeding experiments till February,” he said.
Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, involves dispersing particles like silver iodide or sodium chloride into suitable clouds to induce rainfall.
The Delhi Government’s ongoing trials represent a pioneering approach to combat air pollution through scientific innovation.
Also Read: Delhi Launches First Cloud-Seeding Trial To Combat Air Pollution
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