- Title: Smothered by smog, Malaysian turns to cloud seeding
- Date: 18th September 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Malaysia) AF JETS METEOROLOGIST, AZHAR ISHAK, SAYING: "We have to do the seeding process at least 40 meters on the surface of the cloud because we want to encourage connectivity (of rain clouds). We also need windy areas such as hills so it can encourage airflow upwards and it is very important for this process. In unsuitable conditions, the atmosphere is unstable. Hilly areas play an important role to encourage upwards airflow for condensation and cloud formation." AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER SHROUDED IN HAZE
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2019 11:57
- Keywords: cloud seeding haze Malaysia burning forests smog
- Location: SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR STATE, MALAYSIA
- City: SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR STATE, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Pollution,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA004AX6ND53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At an altitude of just 3,000 feet (915 meters), flares attached to both sides of the Cessna 172 aircraft lit up brightly, dispersing chemicals over Malaysia on Wednesday (September 18) in the hope of bringing rain to clear the smoky air.
It's dry season in Southeast Asia and fires are again flaring, especially in the forests of Indonesia where blazes are started to clear land for plantations. Smoke is drifting across the region, raising worries about health and economic damage, especially to tourism.
Malaysia hopes that cloud seeding, releasing chemicals such as sodium chloride and magnesium oxide into the air from aircraft, can encourage water droplets to form and rain to fall.
One of the methods used to bring rain over Malaysia is called dry seeding, which can be carried out by light aircraft at lower altitudes and over smaller areas.
The firm carrying out the seeding flights over Selangor state, AFJets, has been doing it for 10 years and boasts a success rate of nearly 90%, its firm's chief executive, Amrul Nizar Anuar, said.
Malaysia's air force carried out cloud seeding in three states last weekend, with more expected on Thursday (September 19).
Despite scattered rain following the seeding, haze conditions worsened on Wednesday.
Nearly 1,500 schools were ordered to close, affecting more than a million children, the education ministry said.
(Production: Ebrahim Harris) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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