By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Sept 20: A total of 800 kilogrammes of salt were dissolved with 4,800 litres of water in four 1,200-litre water tanks in preparation for cloud seeding operations across Sarawak today.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 aircraft arrived at 10.45am and preparations began straight after.
According to MetMalaysia Sarawak deputy director Siniarovina Urban Sinyaw, the cloud seeding solution was made up of a mixture of salt and water.
“Each tank can hold about 200kgs of salt solution which has been mixed with 1,200 litres of water,” she explained.
“The solutions will be released at a height of around 7,000 feet. But, we cannot simply release the salt solution at any random spot in the sky. It can only be performed at areas that have towering cumulus clouds which have a higher chance of producing rain,” she added.
The two-hours flight operation today will focus around Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Saratok, Sarikei, Kanowit, Mukah and Lundu.
The RMAF C-130 aircraft will be piloted by Captain Major Rosnalisa Fitri Mohd Rosli, with six crews and 19 media personnel.
It is scheduled to depart from the RMAF Kuching airbase at 1pm after the operation, flight and safety briefing.— DayakDaily
