Scientific seminar to discuss role of interventions in country’s rainfall
Social Desk
Following the mission of Ali Salajegheh, vice president and head of Iran’s Department of the Environment (DoE), to the deputy of Marine Environment and Wetlands of the DoE regarding the study of the causes of low rainfall in recent years in the country, the first scientific seminar on the topic of “The Role of Possible Regional Interventions in the Country’s Rainfall Changes” will be organized by the Environmental Research Institute with the presence of experts in this field.
The head of the DoE, recognizing the sensitivity of public opinion regarding climate change and low annual rainfall, and the serious need for research activities and specialized investigations in this field, requested Mojtaba Zoljoodi, deputy of Marine Environment and Wetlands of the DoE, who has extensive records in the field of meteorology, to investigate the causes of low rainfall in the recent year in cooperation with the National Climate Change Center and the Environmental Research Institute in a comprehensive and specialized study.
In late December, the image of a road leading to the heart of a mountain that was partly dry and partly covered with snow raised questions among the public about the difference in rainfall between Iran and Turkey. Many Iranian users online asked: “Why does it snow in Turkey but not in Iran?”
On December 27, the head of the DoE stated in a gathering of journalists regarding the claim of the disappearance of rain clouds over Lake Urmia: “We have tasked the scientific authority on climate change in the country and the Environmental Research Institute with examining the issues related to climate change and its consequences within a two-week period. What has been raised in the Urmia Lake debate should also be investigated.”
Salajegheh emphasized that every country uses special scientific methods based on climate change, and the average rainfall in neighboring countries has also decreased compared to the long-term average, indicating their great impact from climate change.
“However, the disappearance of the rainy air front over Lake Urmia requires a scientific investigation to determine whether the methane gas produced there or the increase in temperature has an effect or not. Work is being done on these issues,” he said.