The effect of cloud-seeding operations on intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves: a comparative study on three meteorological satiations in Sharjah Emirate, United Arab Emirates

The impact of urban floods represents a challenge for several cities around the world. Sharjah city in the United Arab Emirates experiences significant challenges of urban floods during and after raining evens, which can be linked to the recent cloud-seeding operations conducted in the country. This study assessed IDF curves of three meteorological stations in Sharjah emirate before and after implanting the cloud-seeding operations that started in 2010. Hourly rainfall data related to three stations, namely Sharjah Airport, Al Dhaid, and Mleiha provided by the National Center of Meteorology were used in the assessment. The developed IDF curves showed a significant increase in the values for all stations after implanting cloud-seeding operations. In addition, the estimated mean rainfall intensities for the three stations were also much higher for the cloudseeded years than for the period without cloudseeding. The study suggests updating the IDF curves values on the national level and providing them for all related government departments and consultancy firms to be considered in designing, assessing, and updating storm drainage networks.