Satellite-Based Analysis of Cloud Properties Over Saudi Arabia in Support of Regional Cloud Seeding Program

Clouds play a vital role in modulating the Earth’s radiation budget and regulating regional hydrological cycles. In arid and semi-arid regions such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where annual rainfall is scarce, understanding cloud occurrence and microphysical properties is essential for developing effective cloud seeding strategies. In 2022, KSA launched the Cloud Seeding Program (CSP) under the National Center for Meteorology (NCM), aiming to enhance precipitation across the country. Recent advancements in satellite remote sensing have significantly improved the ability to monitor cloud properties in regions with sparse in situ observations. Despite these technological advancements, research dedicated to the spatiotemporal variability of cloud properties over KSA remains limited. This represents a critical gap, as such analyses are fundamental for understanding cloud–precipitation interactions and the associated atmospheric feedback mechanisms in dry environments.

This study investigates the seasonal variability of cloud properties over the KSA using satellite-derived data from the CM SAF Cloud property dAtAset using SEVIRI (CLAAS-3) dataset. Cloud variability across KSA shows pronounced spatial and seasonal differences, particularly in terms of daytime cloud occurrence. In the central region, cloud cover is generally sparse and dominated by shallow cumulus and cirrus clouds, with peak activity in spring and winter (up to 30–35%), largely influenced by mid-latitude frontal systems and upper-level troughs. In contrast, the southwestern highlands (escarpment) exhibit significantly higher cloud occurrence during the summer, reaching up to 50%, driven by moist inflow from the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean monsoon extension, and orographic lifting. These factors promote the formation of deep convective clouds, capable of producing intense, short-lived rainfall events. Understanding these distinct patterns is essential for improving cloud seeding operations, weather forecasting, and water resource management in KSA.