MetMalaysia conducts cloud seeding over Perlis, Kedah to boost dam water levels

The Malaysian government initiated cloud seeding operations in Perlis and Kedah on September 3 to combat dry weather, low rainfall, and deteriorating air quality. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) stated that the operation aimed to increase rainfall over targeted areas and reservoirs, ensuring a steady water supply for domestic and agricultural needs during the dry spell.

Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin, secretary-general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), accompanied the flight to oversee the procedure and address potential challenges faced by the team.

The RMAF C-130H aircraft, operated by No. 20 Squadron at Subang Air Base, carried four tanks of salt solution for cloud seeding. Each tank contained approximately 200 kilograms of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 1,500 liters of water. The aircraft took off at 12:30 PM, with the mission led by Maj Mohammad Syaaban Zainal Abidin, pilot Maj Mohamad Saifullah Mohamad, co-pilots Capt Mohd Fuad Mohd Nazir and Lt Muhammad Awais Fahmi Abdul Razak, and other crew members.

Cloud seeding commenced over the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis before proceeding to the Ahning, Pedu, Muda, and Beris dams in Kedah. The operation was skipped at the Ahning Dam due to the absence of suitable cloud formations. The aircraft then visited the remaining dams in Kedah, releasing the salt solution when cloud conditions met technical criteria. The operation concluded at 3:30 PM.

MetMalaysia emphasized that the success of cloud seeding relies on suitable cloud formations and atmospheric conditions. Each flight was guided by scientific assessments and meteorological analysis. The flight altitude ranged between 5,000 and 9,000 feet, depending on the cloud formations. Across several states, including Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak, and Sabah, cloud seeding operations achieved a 90 percent success rate in generating rainfall over target or catchment areas this year.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), MetMalaysia, and the RMAF. Nadma coordinated funding, the RMAF provided flight support, and MetMalaysia offered technical expertise. The government plans to consider further cloud seeding operations as a mitigation measure against the El Nino phenomenon and haze episodes, contingent on atmospheric conditions and cloud suitability.