Rainmaking Flights Planned to Cope with Haze

BANGKOK, Jan 21 (TNA) – The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation launched rainmaking flights this afternoon as some weather conditions were promising to make rain to fight particulate matters in greater Bangkok. Surasee Kittimonthon, director-general of the department, said its branch in the eastern province of Rayong deployed two CASA rainmaking planes each carrying one ton of sodium chloride for cloud seeding in the afternoon. The flights were deployed as the lifting index of moist air was very good, at -4.2, promising for the growth of rain clouds, he said. According to Mr Surasee, relative humidity was promising at 70.5% at the altitudes of 5,000-10,000 feet but the level was at 45.1%, lower from yesterday, at the altitudes of 10,000-15,000 feet due to a high-pressure system from China. The promising relative humidity for rainmaking is at over 60%. His department also had its branch in Nakhon Sawan province to prepare rainmaking operations when circumstances were suitable in case at the westerly wind could bring rain to greater Bangkok in addition to ongoing rainmaking flights based on the easterly wind in the East. The westerly wind started, Mr Surasee said. He also said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was concerned about hazardous dust particles in Bangkok, Saraburi, Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom provinces. (TNA)