800kg of salt used in cloud seeding operation targeting dams

KUCHING: Authorities have launched a cloud seeding operation aimed at boosting water supplies at dams during a hot and dry spell. The three-day initiative is being conducted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Meteorological officer Mohd Ridzuan Adam revealed that the operation commenced today, following atmospheric analysis to pinpoint suitable towering cumulus clouds in the designated areas before deploying the aircraft for the seeding process.

The operation employs four tanks, each brimming with roughly 1,800 litres of water and 200kg of salt, resulting in a total salt usage of 800kg per operation. The combined weight of the load amounts to approximately eight tonnes. After identifying appropriate clouds via atmospheric analysis, NADMA proceeds to conduct the cloud seeding. The operational area is expansive, with numerous locations identified, but priority is given to dam regions.

Mohd Ridzuan clarified that cloud development and rain generation typically occur within one to three hours post-seeding, contingent upon varying atmospheric factors, such as air stability and wind movement. He noted that cloud seeding operations during the southwest monsoon are more demanding due to typically stable atmospheric conditions. Nevertheless, the focus remains on augmenting dam water levels rather than solely tackling the haze issue.