Environment

Could a manmade mountain be the key to a wetter UAE?

Could a manmade mountain be the key to a wetter UAE?
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Already home to some of the world's most ambitious construction and engineering projects, including the Burj Khalifa, The World, and Dubai Observation Tower, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly exploring the possibility of constructing a manmade mountain as part of an attempt to boost rainfall in the area.

According to local business magazine Arabian Business, the basic idea is that making a large mountain would force air to rise and encourage the creation of clouds. Cloud seeding could then be employed to increase rain in the area. Just how big an area would benefit from making the mountain isn't clear.

Experts from the United States University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) have teamed up with the UAE's own National Center of Meteorology & Seismology (NCMS) to conduct the research.

The scientists are carrying out a modeling study to decide the location the manmade mountain would be best placed, in addition to its height, shape, and width.

The project is still in its early stages and seems too expensive and outlandish for it to leave the drawing board. That said, you could make the same argument for several of the UAE's most memorable large-scale architectural projects, so who knows?

Source: Arabian Business

7 comments
7 comments
Gizmowiz
The problem with this is that air patterns and moisture will change dramatically for other adjacent areas--as much as 500 miles away or more. IF they built a mountain and it rained like in Seattle you can bet that somewhere in the middle of iran up to Russia they would end up with dry deserts. And sue. Or in Russia's case they would just blast the mountain to dust with nukes.
Gizmowiz
If you build a mountain it will wring out water for some but for others it will block their water. This would start water wars worldwide. You simply can't do this without severe repercussions.
xs400
How about painting a huge black patch in the desert (O-zone, Paul Theroux)? The thermals will create the same effect (any research on this idea?)
christopher
Doesn't have to be a mountain. Could be a wall. Solar sand sintering already exists - for practically no money (some solar robots and concentrating mirrors) you could build this with near zero effort
Douglas Bennett Rogers
At about a dollar per TNT ton equivalent, hydrogen bombs are the cheapest way to do this. An extensive revision of test treaties would be needed. A sea level Panama Canal by this method was proposed in the 50's.
MK23666
How about fake forests that would serve double duty by also collecting solar and/or wind energy? Wide deep man made salt water lakes and canals that would extend the water from the Persian Gulf inland might help out a bit too.
MarcStizzy
A large inflated bubble or such similar device would be far more cost effective than building a mountain made of sand or soil. Hopefully they'll think outside of the box on this project.