Tanzania pre-investigative weather modification study trip
A Journal Report on
Weather Modification in the United Republic of Tanzania
By M.L.Chititewan Devakul, Pete, Sept. 2007.
As a result of the past years of drought in the United Republic of Tanzania, the Tanzanian Government had made a request to the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, following a visit to Thailand by the Tanzanian Prime Minister in 2006, for a cooperation in weather modification by the Royal Rainmaking technology therefore, a team of Thai rain making experts from the Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation BRRAA, who were as well joined by a team of concerned officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who brought up the matter, had been sent to Tanzania to carry out the operations. This is strictly following the permission given by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to export his patented know-how of Royal Rainmaking technique.
The first investigative study trip was made in September 10th-22nd, 2007. In this trip the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries has also been finalized which consists of, besides its main contents of agreements and other designed details of supplements and annexes, three planned main operational stages first following a success, and implementation if so, of each one to the next as follows.:
Stage 1 The demonstration of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology in Tanzania
Stage 2 The training of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology in Thailand as well as in Tanzania
Stage 3 The implementation of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology in Tanzania
Stage 1 The demonstration of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technique in Tanzania
This has been preliminarily agreed and expected to be carried out around early March 2008, according to average monthly & annual rain falls records and statistics, for the period of twenty days with actual rain making demonstration work days of seven days.
The aim is to demonstrate that weather modification by means of the Royal Rainmaking technique, with its more than forty years of long history and background of knowledge and expertise which is also recognized by the WMO, is practical to be effectively and successfully done in Tanzania in order to increase rain falls to boost energy as well as agricultural productions as requested and intended by the Government of Tanzania.
During the first days of the trip the Thai team paid a courtesy calls on Dr. Batilda Salha Burian, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Cooperatives, a visit to Ministry of Water, the Tanzanian Meteorology Agency, and Tanzanian Electric Supply Co., Ltd.. The Minister of State also stated that some budget had been set aside for the purpose of this project.
After several meeting sessions with concerned team of Tanzanian representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Cooperatives, Ministry of Water, the Tanzanian Meteorology Agency, and Tanzanian Electric Supply Co., Ltd. ( TANESCO ), Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority, as well as the University of Dar es Salaam, all sides have reached a preliminary conclusion for the implementation of this project accordingly.
The joined Thai – Tanzanian team also proceeded on a pre-investigative trip during later days of the entire trip through certain parts of Tanzania along the site of Usangu water catchments territory which was planned and chosen by the Government of Tanzania to be the rain target, to obtain various related information and data on local climatology, hydrology, airport information, aircraft availability, and etc.
This journey: was made by departing Dar es Salaam , where most of the meetings were held, first westward to the town of Morogoro
Then further from Udzungwa lies the town of Iringa Mbeya Dar es Salaam
From Mbeya the whole team flew back to Dar es Slaam making an aerial observation via overhead Usangu flats, the wetlands and swamp, abeam Iringa, Mtera reservoir, then landed at Dodoma and took off again to Dar es Slaam. The overall flight time in a Beechcraft King Air 200 of Tanzanian Air Services took 2 hours and 25 minutes.
It can be noticed that from Morogoro, shortly to its south, where the mountain ridges which lies south-westward toward Mbeya, also lies the Uluguru peak of 2,646 meters. Then between Morogoro and Iringa is the location of 2576 meters Lubombero peak in Udzungwa national park. Continue further south-westward, on this same long mountain ridges, lies another three high peaks of 2458 meters Mbogo, Rungwe 2960 meters, and 2521 meters summit near a small high-land village of Lisitu
*** In a big picture it can be remarkably seen that Usangu rain catchments territory is in a rain shadow area as its location is to the northwest of these mountain ridges of its water-shed where most prevailing wind with ocean humidity is from the southeast. More and most of natural rain would normally form up over and rain on the windward side of these mountains, except in the heavy months of the rainy season. Therefore, with the Royal Rainmaking technique, it is very possible to induce and enhance more rain to be targeted over dry Usangu flats and areas nearby and further around as well as most of its surrounding mountainous watersheds and tributary-rivers. ***
After the on site study trips the Thai team has accordingly come across in choosing a small town of Iringa
The reason is that :
1) Iringa lies importantly closest to the path of planned seedings or air sprayings of rain making substances in relation to seasonal prevailing wind, as well as its best proximity to the water catchments areas of Usangu and surrounding high mountain-ridges and water shed itself which also offer climatological advantages for natural clouds to as well form up. In a simple word Iringa is where we want rain and to see a lot more rain around it. Therefore, Iringa is first best as operational base especially, when weather radar is not available. In this case, airplane observation as well as actual site-weather observation are one of the advantages provided that the base is just nearby.
2) Shipping and delivering of rain making substances to Iringa is not in any way showing any difficulty. Its location to port is not too far. Besides, road and transportation systems are efficient nowadays even though the distance is much greater in some other cases.
3) In selecting operational base, the key is to minimize operational overhead costs. Rain making is expensive however, it does not have to be. Therefore, minimizing flight time burning smallest amount of fuel, less CO2 emission as well, is a must, therefore, always stay near the rain target. Keep in mind that cutting down all costs to minimum is best practice. To stay cost efficient is the key to success in rain enhancement. In this case Iringa is half a success.
4) Working on rain making, operational aircrafts must be able to take off quick, come back to land as well as reloading of rain making substances quick enough to take off again at any time. Clouds do change formation every second. None or only small air traffic frequency is preferable at the base. The small airfield of Iringa is perfect. Besides, several alternate airports are located just around nearby in almost every direction.
5) Preparation before flights getting rain making substances ready needs a tidy isolated place to work on even though they are non toxic substances. A good space and room for storage is also needed. Iringa looks fine for this.
6) Today’s communication systems of telephone, fax, internet, and etc. are much highly improved therefore, selecting a remote site as base post no problem. Lines can be linked up wire, mobile or satellite. It’s a good practice to get it done as these technologies also help reducing operational costs as well as making the result of weather modification much more effective. This is not too difficult to get it set up.
7) Airport facilities, runway condition, and etc. at Iringa post no problem in general to the operation as today’s aircrafts are designed for real rugged terrain, have high performances, and etc. All further arrangements of fuel delivery and fueling are responsible by the BP Co., Ltd. or the British Petroleum. For Navigational Aid at Iringa today’s GPS can accurately does all the jobs.
8) Always bear in mind that even though the nearby town of the selected operational base provides less convenience to the personnel staying and working there, however, the selected base has to be used, as the priority is the success and economical operations of the rain making. That’s why Iringa.
9) In deciding and selecting operation base, always check various charts, as well as maps. Today’s even simple good tourist maps are also very informative as they show places in different perspective and aspects. Newspaper, magazines, and most related literatures are good source of data too. When doing site inspection, talking to a lot of local people is a very good practice as so many things could be learnt from that. Follow your instinct and be rain-maker minded. Iringa is a good choice.
10) Notams and all other permissions concerning this mission have been first discussed with Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority. So far green light is shown for all matters.
( In the site study trip, a town of Mbeya and its small soft-field air-strip is also seen as one of good operational bases as it is situated at 5,600 feet ABV MSL where it directly lies just next to the main agricultural territory and catchment areas of Usangu and high mountain ridges of truly various major watersheds of the Great Ruaha river. However its distance to the port of Dar es Salaam
The MOU:
According to the draft MOU, which has been finalized during the first days of the meetings, the overall costs for this project would initially be, in general, shared by the two countries in which :
Tanzania would responsible on the cost of shipping and delivering of rain making substances from source to the demonstration site, all cost of required operational aircrafts, storage and required working facilities.
The Demonstration: The Royal Rainmaking technique:
The technique to be used in Tanzania
It is known that the process of weather modification aimed for enhancing precipitation, the making of rain, in Thailand
Triggering: is the first step for warm cloud stimulation and seeding. This is applied by the use of hygroscopic chemical such as, Sodium Chloride which is simply known as powdered sea salt. This substance, at one certain amount, is sprayed into the atmosphere, at one certain altitude, or approximately at top or mid section to upper shoulder of some existing clouds, in order to attract humidity in the air to create Cloud Condensation Nuclei which will even more form up as visible cloud. The cloud would naturally develop itself upward which is led by its latent heat which it occurs during the process that water vapour condenses into droplets.. The higher the relative humidity levels.
the better result is seen. In this circumstances WX data observed by Auto Tracking Rawinsonde Balloon of Lifted Convective Level as well as Convective Condensation Level, wind direction and velocity, local topography and climatology, and many other factors are used as important guidance in deciding the operation targets aimed for certain precipitation traget areas. The most simple way of APOB or airplane observation also plays important role especially, PIREP the pilot report.
Fattening: is the second step to enhance the development of cloud by the use of exothermic chemicals such as, Calcium Chloride or Calcium Oxide in order to further add up soaring. As when these chemical/s in the form of powder is released into the air approximately either on top or at cloud’s upper shoulder it would attract humidity and simultaneously increases its temperature to become a lot warmer. The amount of water vapor that makes up cloud now builds up its intensity as well as releases latent heat adding up even more soaring activity which makes cloud develops further up highly intensified with even more water vapor to become droplets through its collision and coalescence processes. Good instability as well as lifted indexes and observed higher K index, the moisture and instability level, is certainly even more favorable for better result. When there is a kind of “ buttermilk ” sky the same exothermic chemicals can also be sprayed at top of Alto-clouds in order to create even more soaring and to trig the development of those clouds to break free from layers to much higher altitude.
Attacking: is the third step of bringing rain cloud to yield rain. Now endothermic chemicals, the cold substances, such as Urea or Ammonium Nitrate are used near cloud base and underneath the rain cloud to sink the cloud base as well as to lower the temperature to its dew point where water vapor finally condenses and builds up further to become rain droplets and through chain reaction process. Dry ice, in crushed flakes, which is simply a frozen Carbon Dioxide is also very effectively used under the cloud base. “ Virga ” type of rain can also be intensified by the use of dry ice and Urea to stimulate further condensation, increase RH making rain droplets larger and well reach the ground. In the process of attacking both hygroscopic exothermic and endothermic chemicals and substances can be simultaneously used to attack the same cloud at different altitudes as it has been invented and named as “ Sandwich Technique ” by His Majesty the King.
A sample method on cold cloud operation only:
( His Majesty the King also invented the method of “ Super Sandwich Technique ” with the use of additional aircraft at higher altitude than aircrafts operating on lower level warm clouds to attack the super-cooled cell of Cumulonimbus cloud using Silver Iodide flares normally fired into the cloud at 21,500 feet close to its top. This is when there are certain conditions and activities, which is observed by airplane, inside the cloud such as an up draft of at least 1,000 feet/minute and internal temperature of minus 8 to minus 12 degrees Celsius. The same technique can be used with this type of supercell thunderstorm, which is known to create severe destructive hailstorm turning it into more rain instead. This is possible when S-Band Doppler WX Surveillance radar spots the strong cell and sending a standby aircraft up for operations. )
Aircrafts, Rainmaking substances, Equipments, and personnel.
So far, after the past recent survey trip, since the Government of Tanzania own no aircraft for this purpose, (except the Tanzanian Airforce who own the Chinese made Y12 which are used for VIP only) one of the air taxi-charter services in Tanzania, seems to have good potential to be hired for this mission. Tanzanian Air Services Co., Ltd. has been visited by the teams making investigative study to express and discussed the intention and some details of possible mission using their aircraft rental services.
The company own the Cessna Grand Caravans amongst many other types of general aviation aircrafts. It has been chosen and planned that the Grand Caravans are suitable for this job and that the aircraft modification can be easily done following the sample of present BRRAA’s aircrafts.
Feed back from the Tanzanian Air Services Co., Ltd. shows that they are much interested to this job. The rest is whether the company would be chosen by the Tanzanian Government or not.
Rain making substances, Equipments
At this moment, it was found that none of the rain making substances are available in Tanzania
Storage and all preparation equipments of rain making substances would have to be set up. Details need to soon be worked out with the Tanzanian team.
Rawinsonde balloon and all related equipments may be required to be brought from Thailand to Tanzania
Personnel
It is a must that the flying technique, on weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology, strictly follows correct flying patterns.
Therefore, for this mission required personnel may have to be as follows:
* Three Weather Modification flyer-pilots, where one performs the roles
of Team Leader
* Three Meteorologists-Rain Making Academics
* Seven rain making substances personnel-mechanics
* One secretary-Rain Making Academics / (Total of 14 personnel in
the team)
In Conclusion: Rain Making in Tanzania
However, the demonstration stage is always possible and that it would be also helpful, if the budgets especially, for the cost of flyings, transporting of rain making substances, and others can as well possibly be subsidized by any additional organization.
There is no doubt for the success and effectiveness of weather modification by means of Royal Rainmaking technology. The rain making by this method is also confirmed to be absolutely environmental friendly as is recognized by the WMO, as well as the endorsed evidences of its own long history, records, and statistics.
For future, the mission of rain making in Tanzania itself in a long term, in the good sides, as can be thought of, some rain making aircrafts can, for instance, also help to fly in some other beneficial missions such as, aerial observation or, as well as the flying doctor providing more vaccination and medication to people in remote places as combining missions making the entire project even more meaningful.
Cost and burden of personnel, equipments, and weather data obtaining for rain making purposes can also in addition help predicting the weather, also in a way of storm watch and warning, and as part of national water resource management.
***** It is also very important that correct understanding on the subject of weather modification the rain making be urgently and strongly built up amongst the entire public and academics where the mission would be done. It’s as well a vice versa that we should learn of what, how, when, and where the public need.
A Supplement,
An up dated fact: The benefits of weather modification against climate change and global warming
Three years ago the (“Scientific American magazine”) reported an interesting article as partly quoted as follows:
{“ Far more shrinking of earth green-land surfaces with the consequences of lower relative humidity in the atmosphere can give even higher affect for fewer Cumulonimbus, the rain clouds, to naturally form up. Climate scientists, with the aid of diving robots probing the world’s warming seas, have found the heat exchange between Earth and space is seriously out of balance – what the researchers called a “ smoking gun ” discovery that validates forecasts of global warming.”
“ It is reported that average globe temperature will rise approx. 0.6degree C this century as the result of greenhouse effect which has been built up by human-made gases even if these gases are capped tomorrow. Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University
Now normally, clouds especially Cirrus and some other middle clouds also play its roles in helping to cool down Earth as they reflect sunlight. This means that without enough of them earth’s atmosphere can be a lot warmer. Dry season can be prolonged and that there can be even more destructions caused by severe storm - hail storms which form up due to extremely warm heat low pressure fueled by high relative humidity and strong sun.
When drought hits various parts of the world its fresh water sources consequently reduced causing further ecological imbalanced to most rivers and waterways which yield more fresh water shortage in the dry season. Besides, forests would become too dry and that forest fire has higher tendency to be even more severe and can get out of control. In this case Earth’s watersheds are more destroyed as well as more greenhouse gas are added.
One among many other scientific ways that can do some partly very good little help to the mother-nature in reducing the impact of these situations is the application of “weather modification” which is known as rain making in a simpler term. Besides directly adding more rain water, enhancing precipitation, and creating much more larger clouds to help cool down the Earth, in a big picture, weather modification can certainly, more or less, balance the atmospheric pressure conditions as well as creating better nature and environments of healthier geography of mountains, forests, rivers, oceans, and living things of some certain parts of the world for us to live in peacefully. A country with good nature and environment can boost good GDP and can be a good place for people to live in happily - GDH, especially in a way of sufficiency economy and in harmony.
Also by modifying the weather for more rain over the forests for better and larger green areas enhancing more healthy forests in the tropical regions can, far more and in a long term, genuinely help cool down the earth atmosphere fighting with global warming, as well as cutting down too high rate of water evaporation, as healthy forests release water by transferring it onto the sky which repeatedly creating suitably and appropriately more clouds and rains balancing the entire nature.
It is also a prestige that in the Kingdom of Thailand
Rain making always requires genuine precision when working on the tasks. Basically, for rain making all small things should be counted and taken caution, such as when rain making operation is engaged every time aircrafts fuel are burned, not just the expenses, but also it adds little more greenhouse gas of CO2 to the atmosphere. In addition, one can avoid wasting energy and costs in producing as well as delivering, transporting, and handling of the rain making substances used in certain weather modification operations. Therefore, in general, it is only when the water sheds and the soils need and can absorb more water, then rain making is normally done only, and immediately, when weather condition in general is reasonably favorable to be modified with high precision strictly according to certain applied theory and techniques of rain making, to make even more certain that it shall always yield worth results.
Now to make the rain making worth even more, up stream check dams wherever suitable, possible, and practical should and can be built in most forests which they finally feed all bigger reservoirs and dams. When we make sure that we have a healthy rainy season by means of weather modification as when it is necessary then we would certainly have a healthy environment and healthy nation.
This write up is to be continued on the following matters:
Stage 2 The training of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology in Thailand as well as in Tanzania
Stage 3 The implementation of weather modification by Royal Rainmaking technology in Tanzania
References:
* History of Rain Making: Weather Modification for Rain Making, by HM the King
* Artificial Rain Making by Cloud Stimulation Methods and Fog and Cloud Dispersing Techniques,
by M.R.Teparit Devakul
* Various Royal Rainmaking literatures, by Mr. Metha Rajatabhiti
* Various Royal Rainmaking literatures, by Mr. Wathana Sukarnjanaset
End.
Written by M.L.Chititewan Devakul / September 2007
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