BUREAU OF THE ROYAL RAINMAKING

AND AGRICULTURAL AVIATION

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATIVES

BANGKOK, THAILAND

PRESENTS

50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

WARAWUT KHANTIYANAN
E-MAIL: warawutku@yahoo.com
 BUREAU OF THE ROYAL RAINMAKING
AND AGRICULTURAL AVIATION

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND COOPERATIVES

BANGKOK, THAILAND

50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PRESENT STATUS
3. CLOUD SEEDING TECHNIQUE
4. SEEDING RESULTS
5. SUMMARY
 Geography & Topography & Climatology

Myanmar 20°27’N
INTRODUCTION
Laos
N

NE
C
E Cambodia
Andaman
Sea
Gulf of
Thailand
South China Sea

5°37’N
Malaysia
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97°22’E Next 105°37’E
 Geography & Topography & Climatology

INTRODUCTION
Seasonal accumulated rainfall
WINTER SUMMER RAINY
NOV-JAN FEB-APR MAY-OCT
C H I A NG R A I C H I A NG R A I C H I A NG R A I

MA E HON G S ON TH U N G C H A N G MA E HON G S ON TH U N G C H A N G MA E HON G S ON TH U N G C H A N G

TH A WA N G P H A TH A WA N G P H A TH A WA N G P H A
PHAY AO P HA Y A O PHAY AO

C H I A NGMA I C H I A NGMA I C H I A NGMA I

N AN N AN N AN
L AM PH U N L AM PH U N L AM PH U N
MA E S A R IA N G MA E S A R IA N G MA E S A R IA N G

LA MP AN G LA MP AN G LA MP AN G
PH R A E PH R A E PH R A E

N ON G KH A I N ON G KH A I N ON G KH A I
U I TA R AD I T U I TA R AD I T U I TA R AD I T
N A KH ON PH A N OM N A KH ON PH A N OM N A KH ON PH A N OM
LOE I UD ON TH A N I LOE I UD ON TH A N I LOE I UD ON TH A N I
SU K H OTH A I SU K H OTH A I SU K H OTH A I

B HU MI B OL D A M S A K ON N A KH ON B HU MI B OL D A M S A K ON N A KH ON B HU MI B OL D A M S A K ON N A KH ON
TA K TA K TA K
L OM SA K KA MA LA S AI L OM SA K KA MA LA S AI L OM SA K KA MA LA S AI
M AE SOT PH I T SA N U LOK M AE SOT PH I T SA N U LOK M AE SOT PH I T SA N U LOK
K H ON K A EN K H ON K A EN K H ON K A EN
P H E TC H A BU N MUK D A H AN P H E TC H A BU N MUK D A H AN P H E TC H A BU N MUK D A H AN
K AMP H A N G P H E T K AMP H A N G P H E T K AMP H A N G P H E T

K OSU M P H IS A I K OSU M P H IS A I K OSU M P H IS A I

U MP H AN G U MP H AN G U MP H AN G
C H AI Y AP H U M ROI E T C H AI Y AP H U M ROI E T C H AI Y AP H U M ROI E T

WC
I H I AN B UR I WC
I H I AN B UR I WC
I H I AN B UR I
N A KH ON SA WA N N A KH ON SA WA N N A KH ON SA WA N

T A TU M T A TU M T A TU M
B U A CH UM U B ON R A T CH A T HA N I B UA CHU M U B ON R A T CH A T HA N I B U A CH UM U B ON R A T CH A T HA N I
NA K H ON R A TC H A SI MA NA K H ON R A TC H A SI MA NA K H ON R A TC H A SI MA

L OP B U RI L OP B U RI L OP B U RI
N A NGR ON G SU R I N N A NGR ON G SU R I N N A NGR ON G SU R I N

T H ONG P H A P H U M T H ONG P H A P H U M T H ONG P H A P H U M

S UP H A N B U R I C H OK C H A I S UP H A N B U R I C H OK C H A I S UP H A N B U R I C H OK C H A I

KA N C H AN A BU R I P RA C H IN B U RI KA N C H AN A BU R I P RA C H IN B U RI KA N C H AN A BU R I P RA C H IN B U RI
K AB I N B U R I K AB I N B U R I K AB I N B U R I

S A KA E W A R AN Y A PR A T HE T S A KA E W A R AN Y A PR A T HE T S A KA E W A R AN Y A PR A T HE T
BA N GK OK BA N GK OK BA N GK OK

C H ON B U RI C H ON B U RI C H ON B U RI
KO SC
I HA NG KO SC
I HANG KO SC
I HA NG
P H E TC H A B U R I
P H AT TH A Y A
LA M C H AB A N G RA Y ON G
mm. P H E TC H A B U R I
P H AT TH A Y A
LA M C H AB A N G RA Y ON G
mm. P H E TC H A B U R I
P H AT TH A Y A
LA M C H AB A N G RA Y ON G
mm.
S A TT A HI P S A TT A HI P S A TT A HI P
C H A N TA B UR I C H A N TA B UR I C H A N TA B UR I
H UA H IN HU A H IN H UA H IN

400 4000 400

PR A C HU A P K H I R I K H AN
K H LON G Y AI 350 PR A C HU A P K H I R I K H AN
K H LON G Y AI 3500 PR A C HU A P K H I R I K H AN
K H LON G Y AI 350
300 3000 300
250 2500 250
CH U MP H ON CH U MP H ON CH U MP H ON

200 2000 200

RA N ON G
180 RA N ON G
1800 RA N ON G
180
K O S A MU I
160 K O S A MU I
1600 K O S A MU I
160
KH A N OM KH A N OM KH A N OM

PA N GN GA
SU R A T T HA N I 140 PA N GN GA
SU R A T T HA N I 1400 PA N GN GA
SU R A T T HA N I 140
N AK H ON S I TH A MMA RA T
120 N AK H ON S I TH A MMA RA T
1200 N AK H ON S I TH A MMA RA T
120
P HU K E T A R
I P OR T
K R A BI
C H A WA N G
100 P HU K E T A R
I P OR T
K R A BI
C H A WA N G
1000 P HU K E T A R
I P OR T
K R A BI
C H A WA N G
100
P H U KE T P H U KE T P H U KE T

KO LA N T A TR A N G
P A TT A LU N G
800 KO LA N T A TR A N G
P A TT A LU N G 800 KO LA N T A TR A N G
P A TT A LU N G 800
HA T Y A I
S ONGK H LA 600 HA T Y A I
S ONGK H LA
600 HA T Y A I
S ONGK H LA
600
S A TU N S A TU N S A TU N

S A DA O
P A TT A N I
400 S A DA O
P A TT A N I
400 S A DA O
P A TT A N I
400
N AR A TH I WA T N AR A TH I WA T N AR A TH I WA T
200 200 200
50 50 50

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

INTRODUCTION

• The growing need for water appears most heavily related

to the needs of expanding population and Thai economy.
• Natural rainfall patterns do not support the needs.
• Drought occurs more frequently and tend to be more
severe.

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

INTRODUCTION
300
Annual Rainfall Anomaly 7

250
Wet year 1999 2000

6 1975 6
200 1988
1996
1983 2001
150

Number of Tropical Cyclones

5 5 5 1994
1995
5
2006
100 1974
1971 1976 1980
Rainfall (mm.)

1978
50 4 1973 4 4 4 4 4 4 2002 2005 4

0
1981
-50 1972 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
1990 2003
1984 1998
-100 1982
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
-150 1991 1993 1997
2004
1989
-200
1977 1 1 1 1992 1 1 1
-250 1979
Dry year
-300 0 0 0
Year
Previous NextRainfall No. of TS
 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

INTRODUCTION
300
Annual Rainfall Anomaly 1

1999 2000
250
1975
200 1988 1996

150

2006
100
Rainfall (mm.)

50

-50

-100

-150 1991
1997
2004
-200
1977 1992
-250

-300 0

1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

Previous Warm
Next cold Rainfall
 Annual
50 Rainfall
YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY
(1971-2000) (2005)
(2004)
(2003)
INTRODUCTION

ÁÁ.
m.m. ÁÁ.
ÁÁ.
4000 4000
4000
4000
3500 3500
3500
3500
3000 3000
3000
3000
2500 2500
2500
2500
2000 2000
2000
2000
1800 1800
1800
1800
1600 1600
1600
1600
1400 1400
1400
1400
1200 1200
1200
1200
1000 1000
1000
1000
¤ èÒ»¡ µ Ô½¹ ÃÒ» Õ
900 900
900
900
(¾.È.2514-2543) 2548
2547
2546
500 500
500
500

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

INTRODUCTION

1955 Started the concept of rainmaking in Thailand.

1969-1971 Conducted the first cloud seeding experiment.
1971 Ran the first cloud seeding operation.
1975 Established the BRRAA.
1989-1998 Conducted the AARRP.
Up to now research and operation continue

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

PRESENT STATUS
FACILITIES

Personnel: 500
Aircraft: 30
Operation Center: 8
Research Center: 4
Airfield: 3

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

PRESENT STATUS
KHONKEAN
NAKORNRACHASIMA
N
OPERATION CENTER
PIMAI
4 RESEARCH CENTER
OMKOI 2 5
1 2
1 TAKLI
3 6
4 RAYONG
HUAHIN
73
CHIANGMAI
PISANULOK
8
NAKORNSAWAN

HUAHIN
SURATHANI
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 WARM CLOUD COLD CLOUD CLOUD PHYSICS

RADAR

RAIN GUAGE DATA BASE

SEEDING POTENTIAL

SATELLITE RAWINSONDE ANALYSIS &TRAINING

 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

PRESENT STATUS

ANNUAL MISSIONS

• FEBRUARY-APRIL: FOREST FIRE SUPPRESSION

• MAY-OCTOBER: FOR AGRICULTURE

• SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER: FILL UP RESERVOIRS

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

PRESENT STATUS
Weather Radar Network

TMD

BRRAA

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 Daily operation data set

แผนปฏิบัติการฝนหลวง ระยอง ประจําวันที่ 2005-07-15

ภารกิจ/ เวลา ว.4 สารฝนหลวง/น้ําหนัก ระดับ พิกัด
ขั้นตอน
1/1 10:40- 1 จํานวน 2,500 กก. 6,000 ฟุต N 12 43 00 E 101 45 00,-N 13 15 00 E 101 45
11:05 น. 00,,
2/3 11:10- 1+4 จํานวน 1,000+,1,000 3,000 ฟุต และที่ระดับ N 12 55 00 E 101 15 00,-,
11:30 น. กก. 8,000 ฟุต
3/2 12:05- 1+4+8 จํานวน 6,000 ฟุต , 8,000 ฟุต N 13 08 00 E 101 36 00,-,
12:35 น. 500+1,000+1,000 กก.
4/3 12:05- 1+3+4 จํานวน 2,000 ฟุต N 12 55 00 E 101 20 00,-,
12:25 น. 500+500+1,000 กก.
5/4 15:05- 4+1+3 จํานวน 4,000 ฟุต ,5,000 ฟุต N 12 57 00 E 101 15 00,-,
15:15 น. +1,000+500+500 กก.
6/3 Previous1+4 จํานวน 1,000+1,500
15:30- Next 8,000 ฟุต N 13 22 00 E 101 22 00,-N 13 40 00 E 101 22
16 00 00
 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

SEEDING OPERATION RESULTS

2006 KEY PERFORMANCE INDEX

KPI TARGET RESULT

% of rain day/seeded day 90% 96%
Area coverage of rainfall 32 M 98 M
acres acres
NO. of reservoirs in which 30 28
the water storage > 80%

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 % Water Storage Y 2006

Regions 15 May 31 Oct

N 57 99

NE 44 92

C 36 95

Water Storage
(MCM)
W 71 95
10,000
5,000 E 47 89
1,000
S 64 85

Average 61 95
 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

SEEDING EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The Applied Atmospheric Resources Research Program (AARRP)

involved the conduct and evaluation of the randomized warm-cloud
and cold-cloud seeding experiments in the Bhumipol catchments
area in northwestern Thailand.
A warm cloud seeding experiment under AARRP was carried out
during 1995-1998. The experiment was designed to test whether
the seeding of warm, tropical convective clouds with calcium
chloride particles can produce statistically significant increases
in rainfall. The experiment was conducted in accordance with a
randomized floating single target design

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

SEEDING EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The Applied Atmospheric Resources Research Program (AARRP)

involved the conduct and evaluation of the randomized warm-cloud
and cold-cloud seeding experiments in the Bhumipol catchments
area in northwestern Thailand.
A randomized cold-cloud seeding experiment was carried out
during portions of April, May and June in 1994-1998. The physical-
statistical design was aimed at determining whether seeding with
ejectable, free-fall, silver iodide flares near the tops (temperatures -
6°C to -10°C) of vigorous suppercooled convective clouds growing
within a floating-target area would enhance the rainfall over that area

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

SEEDING EXPERIMENT RESULTS

Rain-volume
AARRP (1991-1997)
seeded
Rain WARM COLD
no-seeded
WARM cloud
Volume 109 58

Rain-volume Area 84 24
seeded
Duration 11 6
no-seeded
COLD cloud % increase over no-seed

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 50 YEARS OF THAILAND CLOUD SEEDING ACTIVITY

FINAL STATEMENT

The concept of cloud seeding in Thailand was initiated by His

Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1955. Since then Thailand
has been involved with a series of experiments and operational
programs to increase rainfall through weather modification.
Although a lot more to learn about how the seeding techniques
work in Thai clouds it is widely used and provide considerable
benefits to the nation’s natural resources and economy.

It becomes one of the several ways to solve the water

problems and its use are maximized as an integral part of a
multi-solution approach to water resources management.

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