Rainmaking efforts ease drought - TH

Cloud seeding has been used by Thailand to alleviate its rain shortage and the technique is spreading to other Asian countries

Planes take off almost every day over Thailand's dried-out rice paddies with a chemical cocktail that scientists -- guided by Thailand's king -- hope will wring the clouds dry and ease a drought that has scorched southeast Asia.

The propeller planes are packed with up to seven people including the pilot, scientists and technicians, all squeezing in around large containers of chemicals ranging from silver iodine to ordinary salt and dry ice.

Flying at about 3,000m over parched fields, dusty dams and thirsty rivers, the planes fly directly into clouds that most pilots avoid so scientists can dump their loads and wait for rain.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/04/15/2003250531