Weather in the Gulf Cooperation Council - statistics & facts
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Global temperatures have risen quite dramatically since industrialization in the early 20th century, a trend closely linked to climate change. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is particularly vulnerable to increasing temperatures due to its already harsh climate. The United Arab Emirates stands out with the highest average temperature in the region, surpassing 32.15 degrees Celsius. This extreme heat poses significant challenges for the region's inhabitants and infrastructure, exacerbating the effects of global warming.
In April 2024, the UAE experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, receiving 18 months’ worth of rain in just 24 hours. In 2022, the UAE had about 18 days of rainfall on average. The recent downpour caused significant damage to homes, commercial buildings, vehicles, and stranded people. The UAE government faced public backlash, with debates linking the storm to the country’s cloud seeding program. This program, in operation since 1990, involves releasing salt flares into early-stage clouds to enhance rainfall and has seen millions of dollars invested and 1,000 hours of seeding annually. Despite this, the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) clarified that the recent storms were not related to cloud seeding, which is conducted only under stable atmospheric conditions. Instead, they attributed the extreme weather to the broader impacts of climate change.
Rainfall and cloud seeding controversy
Contrary to popular belief, GCC countries experience rainfall despite their location in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2022, the GCC region received around 214 billion cubic meters of precipitation. Saudi Arabia received a significant share of the region’s rainfall as it has the largest landmass in the Gulf region. Rainfall is a critical water source for these arid nations, where water scarcity is a perennial issue.In April 2024, the UAE experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, receiving 18 months’ worth of rain in just 24 hours. In 2022, the UAE had about 18 days of rainfall on average. The recent downpour caused significant damage to homes, commercial buildings, vehicles, and stranded people. The UAE government faced public backlash, with debates linking the storm to the country’s cloud seeding program. This program, in operation since 1990, involves releasing salt flares into early-stage clouds to enhance rainfall and has seen millions of dollars invested and 1,000 hours of seeding annually. Despite this, the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) clarified that the recent storms were not related to cloud seeding, which is conducted only under stable atmospheric conditions. Instead, they attributed the extreme weather to the broader impacts of climate change.
