Rainmaking launched to combat northern haze
Rainmaking launched to combat northern haze
27 February 2012
published by www.nationmultimedia.com
Thailand –The Northern Royal Rainmaking Centre initiated its first operation to fight haze and drought in northern provinces on Monday afternoon by inducing moisture to the atmosphere to fall as rain and clear the skies.
Three aircraft are set to start the artificial rainmaking operation over Chiang Mai’s provincial seat, the first targeted location, to alleviate haze and suspended dust particles that have been at levels higher than the safety standard for several days.
However, the operation may not be fully effective due to unfavourable weather and low air humidity, said Kitti Thupsri, a technical specialist at the centre.
The rainmaking operation will continue until October to ease the haze problem and drought in the northern region, he added.
Meanwhile, a forest fire spread to an area near 20 military houses behind the Phu Pieng district office in Nan province, causing haze in several areas including Nan municipality where dust particles were measured on Monday at 134 microgrammes per cubic metre, higher than the safety standard.
Officials are working to bring the fire under control.
Nan mayor Surapol Thienrasutr asked for cooperation from residents to refrain from burning because increasing dust particles could substantially affect the health of the public.
If such fires spread to other property, legal action will be taken against violators.
