The National Center of Meteorology (NCM), which manages the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), today unveiled the agenda of the fifth International Rain Enhancement Forum.

The event will be held virtually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairsfrom 25 to 26 January, 2021.

Drawing the participation of several prominent experts from the UAE and across the globe,IREF 2021will discuss key issues related to rain enhancement research and capacity building, global water security in the light of climate change and artificial intelligence application in meteorology, among other topics related to the latest developments and technologies in rain enhancement research.

Commenting on the event, His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and President of the Regional Association II (Asia) said: “Over the past four years, IREF has succeeded in providinga definitive platform to stimulate in-depth discussion and collaboration among the global research community in rain enhancement science and technology.”

He added: “The forum has helped build a solid base for exchanging expertise, sharing ideas and research studies, and exploring the latest solutions in rain enhancement research and science. Despite the unprecedented times we currently face, NCM decided to go ahead with its plan to host IREF’s fifth edition to support the continuity of research work and foster further engagement among cloud seeding experts.Thisprovides uswith an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate global efforts to tackle water scarcity through rain enhancement research, whilereinforcingthe UAE’s profound role as a leading contributor to the development of viable solutions to pressing global issues, especially water sustainability.”

In her comments on the preparations for IREF 2021, Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), said: “For the fifth year in a row, Abu Dhabi provides a specialized platform to convene prominent international experts and scientists from across the globe to discuss the latest developments in rain enhancement research. At UAEREP, we are proud of the UAE’s contributions to the advancement of this growing research domain through the grounding research work of our awardees.”

She added: “We are confident that the outcomes and recommendations of the virtual forum will help enhance the efficiency and accuracy of cloud seeding operations in finding sustainable water resources. Furthermore, it will go a long way in achieving the program’s objectives of facilitating international partnerships and exchanging knowledge and expertise to address global water security challenges.”

Over its two days, the Forum’s sessions will discuss a wide array of topics related to rain enhancement research. On day one, it will host three sessions discussing ‘Outlook for Global Water Security in Light of Climate Change’, ‘Transitioning from Research to Operations in Rain Enhancement: Case Studies and Roadmap’, and ‘Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent System Applications in Meteorology and Rain Enhancement’.

The Forum’s agenda for the second day features sessions titled ‘The Science of Cloud Formation and Rainfall in the Arabian Gulf’,‘Innovations in Rainfall Enhancement: Methodologies and New Insights’, and ‘Evaluation of Impacts of Rain Enhancement Efforts.

Hosted by the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, IREF serves as a global platform to bring together leading international and national experts, researchers, scientists and stakeholders to tackle pressing water and sustainability issues worldwide.