Viabilidade técnica da semeadura de nuvens como alternativa para minimizar impactos da seca na agricultura do Centro-Oeste

Abstract

Drought periods are the ones that rain the least, and in the Brazilian Midwest, water scarcity is one of the factors responsible for potential losses in the 2nd crops (also called interseason or safrinha), especially corn. Considering this issue, the research aims to analyze the feasibility of cloud seeding in the Midwest, carried out by medium-sized planes, in order to mitigate the damage caused to agricultural production during the dry season. To achieve the proposed objective, a basic nature methodology was adopted, using bibliographical and documentary procedures. Among the documents, Brazilian 18 UTC SIGWX PROG charts from 2019 to 2023 were consulted to record clouds with the potential to be seeded (minimum thickness of 6,500 feet) and quadrants with the highest frequency of clouds. Additionally, the Seneca III aircraft manual served as the basis for cost calculations of the technique. The results had demonstrated that cultivated areas in Quadrant 6 are more conducive to the formation of medium and tower cumulus clouds during the drought, and that these clouds, for the most part, can be seeded with water and precipitate in the region. On the other side, it was observed that the cost for this operation consider account different variables, from the area size to the number of days to produce sufficient rainfall. Considering the results, the research concludes that the practice may be feasible, especially for crops in Quadrant 6, as long as the cloud trend persists, and the cost consider all variables.