The skies above Bangkok have become a symphony of hope as the Department of Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation’s illustrious Cessna Caravans sailed through the air, weaving alchemy to transform the thick veil of air pollution that once gripped the city. It’s a tale of nature and technology dancing in harmony to bring respite to the lungs of the capital’s inhabitants, with the magical decline in the dreaded ultra-fine dust levels now bringing a collective sigh of relief.
In what can only be described as a meteorological coup, Supis Pitaktham, the maestro orchestrating this environmental ballet, and his team launched a daring rainmaking operation from December 16th to 18th. Their canvas was the azure expanse to the east of Bangkok, where ominous PM2.5 dust particles had been waging a silent war on public health.
On December 16th, in a demonstration of tactical brilliance, two Cessna Caravan aircraft were unleashed upon Ban Bung district of Chon Buri and Khong Khuan district of Chachoengsao. Like environmental maestros, the pilots performed a flawless airborne routine that saw the clouds above these districts swell with potential. The result was miraculous: as if by a sleight of hand, PM2.5 levels in Bangkok and its eastern neighbors plummeted, returning the air quality to the safe embrace of official safety thresholds.
The following Sunday, our avian heroes returned to the skies, conducting yet another aerial performance over Phanom Sarakham and Pak Phli districts. Their ingenuity coaxed a gentle rain over Ongkharak and Nong Sua, gifting the earth with life-sustaining droplets. This cascade of events prompted the clouds of the east to drift towards Bangkok, bringing with them the gift of cleaner air. By Monday morning, the transformation was palpable – the PM2.5 specter had retreated!
Reports from the Department of Pollution Control sang praises of this triumphant endeavor. Their data echoing the success story – the erstwhile polluted provinces basking in air quality that now sat snugly within the safety threshold.
It’s not all sky-high piloting and random cloud-chasing, however. Supis points out that this atmospheric artistry requires meticulous planning. The unseen hand of the wind is ever-present at the drawing board; with an easterly breath, the operation pivots to Rayong, and when the winds whisper from the west, Kanchanaburi becomes the stage for the rainmaking ritual.
An opera of this magnitude isn’t without its strict libretto. Our valiant rainmakers must pirouette at least 70 nautical miles from the grand stages of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, maintaining a harmonious balance with the rigorous cantatas of international aviation laws.
As the curtain falls on this atmospheric spectacle, the residents of Bangkok can’t help but gaze skyward with a newfound reverence for the clouds above. No longer just whimsical shapes to be admired on a lazy afternoon, but powerful allies in the quest for a breath of fresh air!
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