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

The Malaysian government conducted a cloud seeding operation in Perlis and Kedah to address dry weather and low rainfall, aiming to increase water levels in major dams for domestic and agricultural purposes.

Utilizing a Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft, the operation involved technical and meteorological guidance to ensure its effectiveness, focusing on suitable cloud formations.

The collaborative effort, involving MetMalaysia, the National Disaster Management Agency, and the RMAF, achieved a 90% success rate in previous operations across various states.

The government plans to continue these operations to mitigate the impacts of El Nino and haze, dependent on atmospheric conditions.

SUBANG JAYA, September 3 — The government has carried out a cloud seeding operation (OPA) in Perlis and Kedah today as an early, targeted measure to address dry weather, low rainfall and deteriorating air quality risks.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said in a statement that the operation focused on increasing rainfall over targeted areas and catchments to help boost and maintain water levels at major dams.

It said the initiative was crucial to ensure an uninterrupted water supply for domestic and agricultural use during the dry spell.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) secretary-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin joined the flight to observe the operational process, technical requirements and challenges faced by the team.

The target locations included the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis, as well as the Ahning, Pedu, Muda and Beris dams in Kedah.

A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130H aircraft from No. 20 Squadron, Subang Air Base, was used for the operation, carrying four tanks of salt solution for cloud seeding.

Prepared as early as 8am, each tank contained a mixture of about 200 kilogrammes of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 1,500 litres of water before the aircraft took off at 12.30pm.

The mission was led by RMAF Mission Commander Maj Mohammad Syaaban Zainal Abidin, alongside pilot Maj Mohamad Saifullah Mohamad and co-pilots Capt Mohd Fuad Mohd Nazir and Lt Muhammad Awais Fahmi Abdul Razak.

Also on board were navigator Lt Muhammad Zulhafizie Mat Zam, flight engineer Maj Muhammad Khairi Khamis, and loadmasters Air Warrant Officer II Zamzuri Mat Jusoh, Air Sergeant Muhd Nur Ezzat Ismail and Air Sergeant Muhammad Syazwan Mohd Yusoff.

Cloud seeding was first carried out over the Timah Tasoh Dam before the aircraft headed to the Ahning Dam, where seeding was skipped due to a lack of suitable cloud formation.

The aircraft then proceeded to other dams in Kedah, spraying the salt solution where cloud conditions met the technical criteria before completing the operation at 3.30pm.

MetMalaysia said the success of the operation depended on suitable cloud formations and atmospheric conditions, with each flight guided by scientific assessments and meteorological analysis.

Observations showed the operation was conducted at altitudes between 5,000 and 9,000 feet, depending on cloud formations.

MetMalaysia noted that cloud seeding operations conducted across several states this year - including Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak and Sabah - achieved a 90 per cent success rate in generating rainfall over target or catchment areas.

The operation was a strategic collaboration involving the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), MetMalaysia and the RMAF, with Nadma coordinating funding, the RMAF providing flight support, and MetMalaysia supplying technical expertise.

MetMalaysia added that the government would continue to consider further cloud seeding operations as a mitigation measure against the El Nino phenomenon and haze episodes, subject to atmospheric conditions and cloud suitability. — Bernama

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马来西亚政府在玻璃市州和吉打州开展了人工增雨作业，以应对干旱和降雨量不足的天气，旨在提高主要水坝的水位，以满足家庭和农业用水需求。

此次行动利用马来西亚皇家空军的飞机，并进行了技术和气象指导，以确保行动的有效性，重点关注合适的云层形成。

由马来西亚气象局、国家灾害管理机构和马来西亚皇家空军共同参与的这项合作，在之前在各个州开展的行动中取得了 90% 的成功率。

政府计划根据大气条件，继续开展这些行动以减轻厄尔尼诺现象和雾霾的影响。

梳邦再也，9月3日讯——政府今天在玻璃市和吉打州开展了人工增雨作业，作为一项早期有针对性的措施，以应对干旱天气、降雨量低和空气质量恶化的风险。

马来西亚气象局（MetMalaysia）在一份声明中表示，此次行动的重点是增加目标区域和流域的降雨量，以帮助提高和维持主要水坝的水位。

声明称，这项举措对于确保旱季期间家庭和农业用水的不间断供应至关重要。

自然资源与环境可持续发展部（NRES）秘书长拿督阿尼斯·里扎纳·莫哈末·扎伊努丁搭乘飞机，观察了操作流程、技术要求以及团队面临的挑战。

目标地点包括玻璃市的 Timah Tasoh 水坝，以及吉打州的 Ahning、Pedu、Muda 和 Beris 水坝。

此次行动使用了马来西亚皇家空军第20中队（位于梳邦空军基地）的一架C-130H飞机，飞机上载有四罐盐溶液用于人工增雨。

早在早上 8 点就已准备好，每个油箱里都装有大约 200 公斤氯化钠 (NaCl) 和 1500 升水的混合物，飞机于下午 12 点 30 分起飞。

此次任务由马来西亚皇家空军任务指挥官穆罕默德·沙班·扎纳尔·阿比丁少校率领，飞行员少校穆罕默德·赛富拉·穆罕默德以及副驾驶莫哈末·福阿德·莫哈德·纳齐尔上尉和穆罕默德·阿瓦伊斯·法赫米·阿卜杜勒·拉扎克中尉率领。

机上还有领航员 Muhammad Zulhafizie Mat Zam 中尉、飞行工程师 Muhammad Khairi Khamis 少校、二级空军准尉 Zamzuri Mat Jusoh、空军中士 Muhd Nur Ezzat Ismail 和空军中士 Muhammad Syazwan Mohd Yusoff。

首先在蒂玛塔索水坝上空进行了人工增雨作业，然后飞机飞往阿宁水坝，由于缺乏合适的云层形成，因此跳过了阿宁水坝的增雨作业。

随后，飞机飞往吉打州的其他水坝，在云层条件符合技术标准的地方喷洒盐溶液，并在下午 3 点 30 分完成作业。

马来西亚气象局表示，此次行动的成功取决于合适的云层结构和大气条件，每次飞行都以科学评估和气象分析为指导。

观测结果显示，作业高度在 5,000 至 9,000 英尺之间，具体取决于云层情况。

马来西亚气象局指出，今年在玻璃市、吉打、霹雳、柔佛、马六甲、森美兰、砂拉越和沙巴等多个州属进行的人工降雨作业，在目标或集水区产生降雨的成功率高达 90%。

此次行动是国家灾害管理机构（Nadma）、马来西亚气象局（MetMalaysia）和马来西亚皇家空军（RMAF）之间的战略合作，其中Nadma负责协调资金，RMAF提供飞行支持，MetMalaysia提供技术专长。

马来西亚气象局补充说，政府将继续考虑进一步开展人工增雨作业，以缓解厄尔尼诺现象和雾霾天气，但具体情况将视大气条件和云层适宜性而定。——马新社

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