When it comes to weather changes, the old saying goes, "one autumn rain and one cold", but in the UAE, it seems to have to be changed. This desert country, known for its heat and dryness, has recently been hit by unprecedented torrential rains, which makes one wonder: what is going on?
Back in 1949, when the treasure of oil fields had not yet been discovered, who would have thought that 75 years later, the country would not only become an energy powerhouse, but also have such a rare climatic anomaly. The cause of the incident may be more complicated than imagined, is it simply the forces of nature that are causing trouble, or is it some human behavior that has triggered this "natural disaster"?
In the UAE, a country is often associated with a steaming desert scene. However, in a recent rare event, Dubai, a bustling commercial city, experienced a severe rainstorm, with the local average of one and a half to two years of rain falling in just 12 hours. This extreme weather has not only caused great disruption to the daily lives of residents, but has also thrown Dubai International Airport, the world's second busiest airport, into chaos.
The development of the matter quickly attracted widespread attention and heated discussions. Experts from the UAE's National Meteorological Centre (NCM) rushed in to investigate and try to find out the truth behind the sudden downpour.
And on the cusp of public opinion, an unexpected focus word - "artificial rainfall" has become a hot topic. Two days before the arrival of the heavy rains, two aircraft reportedly carried out seven artificial rain missions, which makes one wonder if the rainstorm was related to human intervention.
The experts' analysis noted that when an artificial catalyst meets desert dust over Dubai, it may have triggered a complex series of chemical and physical reactions, exacerbating the intensity of the rainfall. However, in a statement on the 17th, representatives of the NCM denied the claim that artificial rain was carried out on the eve of the storm. They insisted that the rainstorm was caused by natural causes.
In addition, the deputy director of the NCM, Omar Al Yazidi, further clarified that although there were pilots who flew missions, they did not "catalyze" any clouds. He explained that although NCM has been carrying out artificial rainfall work since the 90s of the 20th century, this is mainly to increase precipitation, reduce the size of Xiaoice to protect property and crops, and suppress fog around the airport to improve visibility and safety of aircraft.
The UAE's government and media have also had mixed reactions to the rains. While the government warned citizens to stay at home as much as possible during the heavy rains, the Dubai government media office called it a "rain of goodwill". This statement reflects a deeper reality, even if it is a natural disaster, a test of local infrastructure and emergency response capabilities.
Immediately after this heavy rain, clean-up and restoration efforts in Dubai and other affected areas were put into operation. Schools and institutions are closed, and emergency services are pulling out all the stops to ensure the safety of the people and the rapid recovery of the city. Social media was flooded with images of cars in floods and flooded streets that garnered widespread international attention.
At the same time, some people have begun to reflect on whether a desert country should pay more attention to the prevention and response of climate change and extreme weather events in the future.
The impact of this torrential rain was far-reaching. In the short term, it exposes the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events, and in the long term, it could serve as a trigger for broader discussions on climate change and environmental management in the UAE and around the world. Governments and research institutions may need to reassess current climate models and coping strategies to ensure that such unforeseen natural events can be better predicted and managed in the future.
Although NCM denied that the rainstorm was directly related to artificial rainfall, the incident undoubtedly deepened public concern and discussion about the possible consequences of artificial intervention in natural weather phenomena. Although advances in science and technology have brought new means of controlling natural phenomena, we need to be vigilant about their potential risks and side effects. How to balance the relationship between nature and technology while pursuing scientific and technological progress is an issue worthy of deep consideration by all countries.