Research

UAEREP’s current awardees are already carrying out ground-breaking work to enhance precipitation. The approaches include:
The interdisciplinary nature of the awarded projects leverages the latest advancements in material science and nanotechnology for the development of novel seeding materials, autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for more robust and cost-effective delivery platforms, smart sensors for in-cloud charge sensing and delivery, reverse-engineered thermal and/or directed energy systems to stimulate updrafts and convection, and machine learning tools for more efficient cloud forecasting and targeting systems.

• Optimized Seeding Materials: Focuses on the development of new and advanced cloud seeding materials and methods to enhance rainfall. This includes material characterization and innovative delivery techniques to improve rainfall stimulation.
   
• Novel Cloud Formation and/or Rain Enhancement Systems: Targets multi-platform technologies such as UAVs and ground-based systems to create environmentally friendly cloud formation and rain enhancement techniques.
   
• Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Emphasizes the use of autonomous UAVs for precise and real-time cloud seeding operations, with a focus on decision-making technologies and beyond line-of-sight operations.
   
• Limited-Area Climate Interventions: Investigates localized climate interventions such as solar radiation management, leveraging local atmospheric conditions to enhance cloud formation and precipitation.
   
• Advanced Models, Software, and Data: Involves the development of sophisticated models and software for real-time decision-making in rain enhancement, including data assimilation and machine learning techniques to improve forecasting and cloud dynamics modeling.