Cloud seeding targets Sarawak dams amid heat and dry spell

A three-day cloud-seeding operation in Sarawak is focusing on dam catchment areas to increase water supplies, as hot and dry conditions persist in the state. The operation, conducted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in conjunction with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM), commenced today.

After analyzing atmospheric conditions to pinpoint suitable towering cumulus clouds, the team will fly to the designated locations and administer cloud-seeding using specialized materials. METMalaysia officer Mohd Ridzuan Adam stated that dam areas have been given priority in the operation, despite the extensive operational area that has been identified.

Each aircraft carries four tanks, each holding approximately 1,800 liters of water and 200 kilograms of salt, resulting in a total of 800 kilograms of salt used per operation. Cloud development and rainfall generally occur within one to three hours after seeding, although the timing may vary depending on atmospheric conditions such as air stability and wind movement.

METMalaysia expects the haze situation in Sarawak to continue for several more days due to a high number of hotspots caused by open burning in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The department is closely monitoring weather conditions, especially the development of haze and meteorological factors that could impact its intensity. The haze is predicted to persist as long as the fires in Kalimantan remain uncontrolled, and the intensity of the haze depends on prevailing weather factors like wind direction and rainfall.