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<br />based weather modification demonstration project. Thailand also has agen- <br />cies with funds to help support applied research such as the National <br />Research Council and its current cloud seeding rocket project. Thus, in- <br />country human and institutional resources exist to support a more compre- <br />hensive scientific program. <br /> <br />Equally important to the likely success of an enhanced scientific weather <br />modification program is the tropical weather of Thailand. It frequently <br />presents numerous clouds of the type believed to be modifiable, a situation <br />which will provide a rapid collection of test samples. Thus, a scientific <br />evaluation of rainmaking capability can be defined in a relatively short <br />period of years. <br /> <br />There are many factors collectively indicating that further scientific and <br />technical development of Thailand's sizable weather modification opera- <br />tional program should be highly successful. Most important is the widely <br />held view that weather modification is not a means to just a scientific <br />end, but rather it is an important tool for use in water resources manage- <br />ment of Thailand. Users recognize weather modification as a supplementary <br />non-structural intervention to provide additional water for irrigation, <br />rainfed agriculture, power generation, and domestic and industrial <br />supplies. Since opportunities for new major reservoirs are now very <br />limited, users recognize that weather modification can be used to enhance <br />the operational effectiveness of existing reservoirs and irrigation <br />systems. Further, in all discussions with Thai leaders, they observed that <br />Thailand needs to develop a scientifically-based rainmaking capability with <br />a quant,ified water augmentation potential which should be complemented by a <br />quantitative assessment of the utility and value of this additional water <br />in economic and environmental terms. This unity behind a focused goal that <br />is scientifically and technically achievable is impressive. <br /> <br />Priorities for the Program <br /> <br />The team had the honor of an audience with His Majesty King Bhumipol <br />Adulyadej on 21 September 1986 at the Palace at Taksin Rajanives near <br />Narathiwat. His Majesty the King expressed the following key concerns over <br />the development and future program of the RRRDI: <br /> <br />1. He stressed the need for development and implementation of an <br />improved and more comprehensive scientific approach to the design, <br />operation, and evaluation of the program. The potential value of com- <br />puter modeling of clouds and cloud seeding was discussed as a means to <br />achieve these objectives. <br /> <br />2. He emphasized the role of weather modification (rainmaking) in water ! <br />resources enhancement7 pollution dispersal, and supplemental drinking 9 <br />water supplies as an element of an integrated approach to natural and <br />water resources management. <br /> <br />3. He urged that the program objectives could only be achieved by full <br />cooperation and coordination between participating organizations. <br /> <br />ii <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />'&' <br />v' <br /> <br />t- <br />