BANGKOK, 16 October 2014 The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation hopes to carry out more rainmaking operations in the North of Thailand as the water levels at most dams remain low.
Mr Warawut Khantiyanan, Director-General of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, today paid a visit to northern provinces including Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Tak and Chiang Mai in an effort to observe the local drought condition and to be briefed on the outcomes of previous rainmaking operations. After the trip, he said the situation in the lower northern region was not worrisome due to recent rainfalls but some provinces in the upper part could be in trouble.
The Director-General explained that the amount of water flowing into northern dams, such as Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam, was found to be relatively low compared to the same period of last year. As a consequence, he feared the water reserves would not be sufficient for local farming during the approaching dry season.
To alleviate drought, Mr Warawut affirmed that authorities would push on with rainmaking activities in the North until the end of this month, after which the level of humidity in the air would plunge, making it difficult for the cloud seeding procedure. He said the officials were awaiting a weather forecast for the next few days to determine whether the humidity level in the region would be suitable for rainmaking.
