Nature's Spectacle: Why Dubai's Sky Turned Green Amid Heavy Rains And Storm?

Dubai recently encountered its most substantial rainfall in 75 years, witnessing an unprecedented deluge that typically accumulates over many years but poured down within a mere 24 hours. While some attribute this to Dubai's desert locale, where artificial rain is induced annually through cloud seeding, this event surpassed even those expectations. Excessive cloud seeding has indeed occurred, contributing to the heavy downpour. However, the underlying cause lies deeper—climate change has precipitated a severe flood in Dubai, resulting in billions of dollars in losses within a few fleeting hours. However, amidst this calamity, a remarkable phenomenon unfolded: the Dubai sky, painted an eerie shade of green by the relentless rain.

The weather agencies deemed it a "historic weather event." Meanwhile, pictures showcasing the devastation in Dubai took center stage in headlines, while videos and photos capturing Dubai's green sky swiftly garnered attention on social media. Many users expressed astonishment at the event, while others viewed it as a concerning sign for the future.

A report suggests that the shift in color is caused by ice droplets within the cloud, influenced by how light diffuses in the atmosphere. In storm clouds with deep and water-rich particles, blue light scattering is prevalent. When the atmosphere scatters red light, and it shines on these blue water or ice droplets in clouds, they acquire a greenish tint. The report emphasizes that there is no established connection between blue-green skies and the formation of tornadoes.

Backing this assertion, a meteorologist remarked, "When blue objects are lit with red light, they take on a green hue. While the green tint is noteworthy, it doesn't serve as proof of an impending tornado. Green clouds are only visible when the cloud is exceptionally dense, typically occurring in thunderstorms.

Put simply, the occurrence of the sky adopting a green hue during a rainstorm is termed virescence. As blue-light reflecting water droplets within the rain clouds blend with the red light of dawn, the sky transitions to green. There's a widely held belief that ice within storms aids in scattering light, giving cumulonimbus clouds a greenish appearance. The presence of hail and rain in a storm cloud intensifies the greenish tint of the sky.