Source : WAM
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) participated in the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), held in Houston, Texas, from 25 to 29 January 2026.
The event brought together scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to exchange knowledge and discuss the latest developments in atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrologic sciences.
During the meeting, the UAEREP delegation held stakeholder discussions and visited universities in Texas, including the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University, to strengthen academic and research cooperation and explore future collaborations in weather modification and climate science.
Awardees from UAEREP’s third, fourth, and fifth cycles contributed significantly to the scientific program at AMS 2026. These included Dr. Lulin Xue, Prof. Daniel Rosenfeld, Prof. Will Cantrell, and members of their research teams, who delivered presentations across multiple sessions, highlighting UAEREP-supported research in cloud microphysics, aerosol-cloud interactions, and precipitation enhancement.
“Participation in major international scientific forums such as AMS Annual Meeting strengthens this commitment by enhancing UAEREP’s collaboration with leading research institutions and scientific experts, enabling the exchange of knowledge, informed scientific dialogue, and the showcasing of the UAE’s progress in rain enhancement research,” said Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Director-General of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of UAEREP and Director of the Research and Weather Enhancement Department at the NCM, stated that the meeting provided a valuable opportunity to present project outcomes and engage with the global scientific community on future initiatives, including the seventh cycle of the program and the eighth International Rain Enhancement Forum.
On the sidelines of the conference, the UAEREP delegation met with Dr. Ehsan Erfani, Research Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the Desert Research Institute, to discuss progress in cloud microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions, as well as potential collaboration to improve severe weather forecasting and climate modeling for arid and semi-arid regions.
The delegation also met with Dr. Greg McFarquhar, Director of the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations at the University of Oklahoma, to explore collaboration on cloud microphysical processes and the impacts of aerosols on cloud water and energy budgets, including integration of advanced instrumentation and modeling approaches relevant to precipitation enhancement in arid environments.
Additionally, UAEREP held discussions with Prof. Youtong Zheng, Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston, to exchange perspectives on recent advances in cloud physics modeling and its role in climate prediction and adaptation.
