Chiang mai: The Royal Rainmaking Department has ramped up its initiatives to tackle the PM2.5 dust issue plaguing northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, by deploying seven aircraft for eight flights. The operation employs a "penetrating the atmosphere" method to disperse accumulated dust and employs "cloud seeding" to enhance the probability of evening rain. This follows alarmingly high air quality levels that have reached a purple alert, indicating severe health risks.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rachen Silaparaya, the Director-General of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, disclosed that the PM2.5 dust situation in Chiang Mai province remains critically high. Today, the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 228, classified as purple, severely affecting health. This prompted Mr. Rachen to instruct the Royal Rainmaking operations unit in Chiang Mai to adapt their strategy swiftly, leveraging optimal humidity levels to initiate immediate action.
The operation is centered on two key missions: atmospheric penetration to decrease dust accumulation and cloud seeding to elevate rain chances in the target areas. For dust dispersal, CN and CASA aircraft are tasked with spraying cold water to lower atmospheric temperature in Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province, and Hod and Doi Saket Districts in Chiang Mai Province. Concurrently, L410 aircraft are dispersing dry ice at higher altitudes above the dust layer in Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province, and Muang Pan District, Lampang Province, facilitating quicker dispersal of dust particles. For cloud seeding, two CASA aircraft are operational in Mae Taeng, Kalayanawatana, and Omkoi Districts in Chiang Mai Province, as well as Wiang Pa Pao and Mae Suai Districts in Chiang Rai Province, to encourage cloud formation and increase the likelihood of rainfall this evening.
Mr. Rachen stressed that this operation is a proactive and time-sensitive response, utilizing advantageous weather conditions to induce rainfall in the target areas to wash away dust particles and reduce health impacts on the public. The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation will continuously monitor the operation via the rainmaking radar system throughout the day and evaluate the situation to plan subsequent actions if dust levels persist at critical levels.