Increase In Pollution Decreases Rainfall Level!

Our world is leading towards water scarcity and it is not much awaited for the time when water crisis will hit the world. It’s the month of July and many regions have still not seen rains, what is the main reason that has caused this to happen? It is the increase in pollution, researchers have found that air pollution is the sole reason that is diminishing rainfall in mountains and the same effect is causing water scarcity in the regions near mountains. One might be thinking that mountain regions are known to be wet as when air rises up it cools and condenses and creates a rainy climate and causes rainfall. This type of rain is known as Orographic Rain, as it is a crucial component of water supply in regions that are dry.

According to study conducted by meteorologists it has been already known that pollution can delay or supress the rate of precipitation. Small particles that are known as aerosols are known to alter the size and properties of the water droplets that form in clouds, and affect the weather in several ways. Tiny particles in air pollution have been suspected to be the main cause for this issue.

Aerosols affect our climate in many ways. There are different types of aerosols that cause different effects. The fine particles from diesel engines, biomass burning and fertilizers used in agriculture have different properties than large particles such as mineral dust or sea salt. Larger aerosols contain more soluble material, which generally attracts water. This helps in collecting raindrops, thus in turn helps in enhancing rainfall.

Some people who work in weather management fields have attempted to take advantage of this relationship between aerosols and rain by using engineered particles to control rainfall. Many measures have been taken but there has not seen a single positive convert of those experiments. This clearly indicates that how much we try but the sole attempt that can save us from the effect is by controlling pollution. Water is one the most important resource which any living being requires and thus proper rainfall is also needed. Many farmers die every year due to lack of rain thus controlling pollution is very essential.

By: Prerana Sharma

Content: https://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/070305-11.html