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

3. CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT

The RTG has been and continues to be primarily responsible for the provision of personnel
and facilities, and for the collection and quality control of AARRP data. The RTG was also
responsible for the execution of cold and warm cloud experimental seeding and modeling
studies, performed under the guidance of foreign experts. This section provides a summary
of the major contributions of the RTG to the AARRP, both for Phase 1 and the start of Phase
2.

3.1 Financial Contributions

The RTG has committed a total of222,926,800 baht ($8,917,072) to the AARRP for the period
1988-1995. USAID's support to the RTG for the AARRP ends in June 1994; thus, the RTG
has already made a financial commitment to Phase 2 of the AARRP. The RTG resources
provided, and the related financial costs for the 1988-1995 period, are summarized in table
3.1. An estimated 11,182,240 baht (about 30 percent) of the 1994 budget, was used during
Phase 1, leaving 24,631,020 baht in 1994 for Phase 2. This budgeting results in a total of
152,926,800 baht ($6,117,072) for Phase 1 under the PASA, and an RTG commitment of
70,000,000 baht ($2,800,000) for starting Phase 2 of the AARRP. In addition, the RTG
obtained 3,750,000 baht ($150,000) in loan money from USAID for the purchase of a GMS
(geostationary meteorological satellite) system.

The RTG's financial contribution covers Thai personnel salary, per diem, and travel costs; the
multi-year lease of a high-altitude research/seeding aircraft; warm cloud seeding aircraft and
helicopter costs; seeding equipment and chemicals; the purchase of new equipment and
ground vehicles; vehicle operations and maintenance; installation of new field facilities;
equipment spare parts and maintenance; expendable supplies; and other miscellaneous
operating expenses.

3.2 Project Personnel

Most of the personnel working on the AARRP were from the RRRDI. As with any multi-year
project, the personnel changed from year-to-year because of the completion of long-term
training and transfers within RRRDI projects or departments. Some work assignments
changed within the AARRP. The number of Thai people working on the AARRP during the
PASA period remained fairly constant. During 1993, about 30 people from RRRDI were
assigned to work on the AARRP (see figure 2.2). Other personnel who participated on a part-
time basis during the 1993 field season were the crews for two warm cloud seeding aircraft
and a helicopter from the AAS (Agricultural Aviation Service), and the crew for the high-
altitude research/seeding aircraft from Thai Flying Service. Assistance was also received
from meteorological forecasters and rawinsonde technicians from the TMD (Thai
Meteorological Department) regional center in Chiang Mai.

3.3 Facilities and Equipment

The RRRDI (Rainmaking Section under BRRAA on figure 2.1 under section 2, APPLIED
ATMOSPHERIC RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM STRUCTURE) is housed in a
permanent center constructed on the campus of Kasetsart University in Bangkok. This
facility includes a two-story office complex and storage facilities for equipment and chemicals.

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