WMOD00294 ‎(2)‎

• Title: Thailand Applied Atmospheric Research Program - Final Report - Volume I
• Prepared For: US Agency for International Development
• Date: 3/1/1994
• Country: Thailand
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

1. INTRODUCTION

Since the late 1960s, under the direction of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, scientific
and technical organizations in the Kingdom of Thailand have been involved with a series of
experiments and operational programs to increase rainfall through weather modification. A
national program of weather modification was formalized in 1975 through establishment of
the RRRDI (Royal Rainmaking Research and Development Institute) under the MOAC
(Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives). In 1993, the RRRDI merged with the
Agricultural Aviation Division of the MOAC to form the BRRAA (Bureau of Royal
Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation). The principal objective has been to increase rainfall
through the seeding of clouds over the important agricultural areas of Thailand, where
rainfall in some years is less than optimal for crop production. The cloud seeding program
is based on a cloud seeding technique that is unique to Thailand: the seeding of warm clouds
in a three-step process with exothermic and endothermic chemicals delivered in a specified
time and space sequence in an attempt to produce a combination of dynamic and
microphysical (static) effects.

Throughout the years, officials responsible for the Thailand weather modification program
have attempted to improve its effectiveness by taking advantage of the latest weather
modification scientific findings. Thailand cooperates with the WMO (World Meteorological
Organization) and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in exchanges of
information. The results of cloud seeding experiments in other countries have been studied
for information on seeding agents, seeding rates, and delivery systems. Thai personnel made
official visits to the People's Republic of China in 1984, to the U.S. (United States) in 1985,
and to Canada in 1986.

In 1986, His Majesty the King recognized the need for the development and implementation
of a more comprehensive scientific approach to the design, operation, and evaluation of
Thailand's weather modification program. Accordingly, the Royal Thai Government
requested assistance from the USAID (United States Agency for Intemational Development),
who agreed to sponsor a visit by a team of experts to assess Thailand's weather modification
program and make recommendations for improvements. USAID entered into a PASA
(Participating Agency Service Agreement) with Reclamation (Bureau of Reclamation) for
implementation of the Thailand weather modification assessment. The P ASA to finance the
assessment was signed on August 29, 1986.

The team of experts assembled for the visit to Thailand to conduct the assessment consisted
of Dr. Bernard A. Silverman of Reclamation, Dr. Stephen F. Lintner of US AID /Washington,
Professor Stanley A. Changnon of the University of Illinois, and Dr. John Flueck of the
University of Colorado. The team visited Thailand from September 7-26, 1986. The team
members observed all phases of Thailand's weather modification program and discussed
weather modification technology with members of the Royal Thai Government concemed with
water resources and agriculture. On September 21, 1986, the team members had an
audience with His Majesty the King, who provided his views on the role of weather
modification in Thailand. Details conceming the team visit, as well as background
information on the climate of Thailand, the needs for additional water, and the history of
weather modification in Thailand, are contained in the team's assessment report entitled,
"Weather Modification Assessment: Kingdom of Thailand" (Silverman et al., 1986).