Through its EMS subsidiary, Mekorot has engaged in rain-enhancement activities for over 45 years, a process that increases the quantity of rainfall for human benefit. The result has been increased annual rainfall amounts in the Sea of Galilee catchment area by an average of 13%-18%. The company attributes the success of the program to the technologies developed by EMS and Israel’s unique atmospheric conditions.
Key elements in Mekorot’s research activities are a) gaining a better understanding of ‘cloud physics’, the chain of events that occur in rain clouds that culminate in precipitation, including cloud formation and life cycle; b) conducting randomized experiments to verify actual rain enhancement; and c) assessing the economic value (high benefit-cost ratio) of cloud seeding. EMS research has yielded important discoveries related to converting cloud water into rain water to increase rain yields and the effectiveness of silver iodide in the seeding process through its ice nucleating activity.
EMS utilizes both seeding planes and ground burners to seed clouds with silver iodide in order to enhance precipitation. These seeding methods include ground-based Agl generators, static airborne seeding near the cloud base and Agl flares released from aircraft flying at higher altitudes.
Hydrological research has indicated that rain enhancement activities have resulted in an increase of 40 million cu. meters of water annually to the Sea of Galilee, 10 million cubic meters in the Western Galilee and 10 million cubic meters in Israel’s Central Coast Aquifer for a total of 60 million cubic meters of water, at a cost of 0.02$/m3.
Due to the fact that rain enhancement is not an established technology, EMS takes an active role in rain enhancement research in conjunction with leading Israeli research and academic institutes, including the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Practical research efforts range from engaging in seeding flights utilizing sophisticated rain measurement and collection devices, to burner operations, cloud radar and satellite photography. EMS also tests novel, sophisticated technologies developed by start-up companies and others.
Based on the success of the company’s activities in Israel, Mekorot staff have been invited to engage in a rain enhancement project in Italy. Numerous countries that are establishing their own rain enhancement activities have also sought advice from EMS personnel.