THE RAINMAKER
To take part in a rainmaking mission, one has to forget safety protocol. Pilots are advised to avoid flying into thick cloud to avoid turbulence. But the mission of the rainmakers is to do precisely that. For 32 years, Tawee Kanjana, director of the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Centre for Northeastern Provinces, has been on several hundred such flights as the lead scientist of the operation.
“We run into risky situations sometimes. Once, our three aircraft were caught up in thick clouds without any visibility. Anything was possible,” said Mr Tawee.
“We trust each other’s ability. Our pilots are well trained. Moreover, we are blessed by His Majesty.”
About 4,000 operations have taken off to make rain nationwide so far this year. “Everything is fine. Besides, 90 times out of 100 we succeed. Science makes miracles,” he said.
Now in management, these days Mr Tawee does not fly as often as he did. But he still goes up with the rainmaking missions from time to time.
“I have to be there to make constant updates such as relative humidity value, cloud conditions and any change of wind direction, and I take aerial photographs,” said the 57-year-old scientist.
King Bhumibol initiated the rainmaking project to help farmers during drought from the 1950s onwards. In 2005, he was awarded a patent for weather modification technology.
Mr Tawee said His Majesty’s rainmaking consists of three steps: triggering, fattening and attacking the clouds.
Other scientists’ weather modification focus on the attack process. But the King’s version consists of all three steps to increase the amount of rain because it is feasible in Thailand’s tropical climate.
Rainmaking starts early in the morning. The rainmakers begin with triggering or modifying weather conditions by spreading salt powder at 20,000 feet, which serves to condense the clouds and attract more moisture.
Around 11am or noon, the team will fatten or expand the size of clouds by spraying calcium chloride or calcium oxide to make the water droplets bigger.
Around 2pm, another aircraft will do the attacking. After clouds have been enlarged and are flowing to the designated area, rainmakers will spray urea or dry ice to drag the clouds lower and create rainfall by cooling the droplets.
The process can usually be completed in one day but takes meticulous observation and persistence.
Mr Tawee, who oversees 20 northeastern provinces, said scientists have to float a radiosonde in a weather balloon before an operation to see whether conditions are conducive for rainmaking.
Once the weather is checked, the rainmaking team will fly up into the sky. Usually, there are three aircraft involved in the operation. Sometimes pilots have to search for clouds for many days.
“We have to be very observant because we are dealing with nature, which can be unpredictable,” said Mr Tawee.
Despite the difficulties and risks, “we are proud that we can overcome the drought by creating raindrops to nourish the hearts of the people”.
The rainmakers have several missions. In addition to making rain, they also fly up to disperse clouds that could lead to hailstorms. They also fly to trigger rainfall to raise water levels in major dams.
Before flying up, the team studies maps of the area to ensure that rainfall will not affect things such as nearby crops.
After a mission, rainmakers have to make a report. His Majesty closely followed operations and sometimes sent direct messages to rainmakers to boost their morale. In 1999, the King outlined rainmaking in six steps.
Asked what he had learned from rainmaking, he said, “If we want to succeed, we have to persevere like The Story of Mahajanaka.”
His Majesty modified The Story of Mahajanaka, based on a character in the Holy Tripitaka. In the ancient text, King Mahajanaka practised the ultimate perseverance to help people without desire for reward.
“I have learned that we have to work hard and never give up. The result can be rewarding in itself. See how we beat nature? This is a miracle indeed.”