The artificial way of causing rainfall, known as cloud seeding, utilizes substances like silver iodide and potassium iodide as cloud condensation nuclei. These materials promote the formation of ice crystals in supercooled cloud droplets, enhancing precipitation. This process is particularly relevant in mitigating air pollution, as induced rainfall can help cleanse the atmosphere by trapping and washing away airborne pollutants, thus improving air quality and visibility, topics of relevance in environmental studies covered by standard UPSC reference materials.