Pictures courtesy of InsideThailand 

 

The King ordered the establishment of eight dry-ice production facilities to support royal rainmaking operations aimed at alleviating severe PM2.5 air pollution. The move is intended to boost the capacity for rapid and continuous cloud-seeding missions that help disperse hazardous particulates and ease public hardship. Construction initially began following the royal directive issued on 24 March 2025, with five of the facilities now completed and operational under the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation.

 

The initiative comes as Thailand continues to face recurring PM2.5 problems over recent years, affecting air quality across multiple regions. As part of his directive, the King instructed that the dry-ice production plants be built at Royal Rainmaking Operation Centres nationwide, with the first facility constructed at the Upper Southern Royal Rainmaking Operations Centre in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province. Each plant is capable of producing one tonne of dry ice per hour, with a maximum capacity of six tonnes per day to support intensified atmospheric modification efforts.

 

According to the department, five centres have completed construction: the Upper Southern centre in Phetchaburi, the Northern centre in Tak, the Lower Northern centre in Phitsanulok, the Northeastern centre in Khon Kaen, and the Lower Northeastern centre in Buri Ram. These sites now provide strategic coverage for rainmaking operations aimed at reducing pollution levels and enhancing weather-modification efficiency. Officials note that the improved supply of dry ice will help accelerate response times during periods of severe smog.

 

In recent years, the department has studied and tested multiple atmospheric intervention techniques designed to absorb fine particulates and break temperature inversion layers that trap pollution near the ground. Trials have involved dispersing water, cold water and dry ice, with the latter demonstrating the highest effectiveness in lifting trapped dust into upper atmospheric layers. Tests conducted last year confirmed that dry ice produced the most efficient opening of inversion layers compared with other methods.

 

InsideThailand reported that the department emphasises that the enhanced production capability will support more frequent, targeted interventions during pollution episodes. With national concern over PM2.5 levels increasing, the expanded infrastructure is expected to strengthen Thailand’s ability to respond to future smog events. The remaining three facilities are scheduled for completion in line with the royal directive to ensure full nationwide coverage.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The King ordered eight dry-ice production plants to strengthen rainmaking operations against PM2.5 pollution.

• Five facilities are now completed, each capable of producing up to six tonnes of dry ice per day.

• Tests show dry ice is the most effective material for opening inversion layers and dispersing trapped particulates.

 

Related Stories

 

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 Adapted by Asean Now from InsideThailand 2025-12-05

 

 

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It's that time of year again. Burn offs, typical daily pollution from factories and vehicles plus seasonal temperature inversions equals dangerously high PM 2.5 levels. Unfortunately Band-Aids won't reverse this.

Note: If you want this thread to remain open please adhere to the above forum rules reminder.

the first step to reducing pm 2.5 would be to stop all kinds of burning, vehicle pollution, factory pollution, etc., and most importantly, to enforce all these measures with strict penalties. this is called tackling the root causes, which will have a real sustainable impact on air quality ...

1 minute ago, motdaeng said:

the first step to reducing pm 2.5 would be to stop all kinds of burning, vehicle pollution, factory pollution, etc., and most importantly, to enforce all these measures with strict penalties. this is called tackling the root causes, which will have a real sustainable impact on air quality ...

A pm2.5 wall ? Mexico can pay for it !

I make no criticism, only a comment as a scientist.  'Dry Ice' is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main cause of global warming, by trapping the electromagnetic solar radiation that has been reflected off the land and oceans, and which would normally pass harmlessly out into space.  Instead it is re-reflected back down to the Earth, or absorbed by air gases molecules, thus leading to increased global warming.

 

The issue of PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere is (IMHO), better tackled at source.

 

 

41 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I make no criticism, only a comment as a scientist.  'Dry Ice' is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main cause of global warming, by trapping the electromagnetic solar radiation that has been reflected off the land and oceans, and which would normally pass harmlessly out into space.  Instead it is re-reflected back down to the Earth, or absorbed by air gases molecules, thus leading to increased global warming.

 

The issue of PM2.5 particles in the atmosphere is (IMHO), better tackled at source.

 

 

 

The question is whether we die from air pollution or global warming, which has not yet been scientifically confirmed but is based on a minimal fluctuation of a few percentage points due to human activity. It is clear that the first solution is the most urgent.

 

I have noticed my balcony gets a ton of pollution dumped on it every day.

 

This is my 4th year here I've seen it get worse every year. 

Off topic conspiracy theory post removed, @Woke to Sounds this is the news section, where claims need to be factual, not fantasy.

46 minutes ago, Furioso said:

I have noticed my balcony gets a ton of pollution dumped on it every day.

 

This is my 4th year here I've seen it get worse every year. 

This is about my 40th year here and it never gets better.

 

Stop BURNING!

1 hour ago, Furioso said:

I have noticed my balcony gets a ton of pollution dumped on it every day.

 

This is my 4th year here I've seen it get worse every year. 

2000lb, or metric ton.?

Nuts - In recently TOLD the governors in the North of Thailand, to handle crop burning. Went to Global House yesterday afternoon in Uttaradit.

The rice fields beside the venue were on fire and the smoke caused everyone shopping there to have to put on a mask to breathe.

Picked up my blocks & on the way home, rice fields to the left and the right of me on fire also.

It is reassuring to know that when the PM speaks, no one f&%#ing listens to his directives. 😞 

 

These farmers are not even replanting the crop & when asked WHY they do it - 'We've always done it like this.' ..... and there my friends, is the mentality in this country. 😞 

3 hours ago, motdaeng said:

the first step to reducing pm 2.5 would be to stop all kinds of burning, vehicle pollution, factory pollution, etc., and most importantly, to enforce all these measures with strict penalties. this is called tackling the root causes, which will have a real sustainable impact on air quality ...

The local governments should set up a page on FB. That's easy to do. They then encourage citizens to take photos with their smartphones of burning happening around their province. That's easy to do.

 

They ask the people to drop a 'pin' for the location & then the relevant authorities attend the fire. Appropriate warnings given and possibly fines. That's easy to do.

 

It's such a simple solution and I am sure that the local people would be up for this. Will the local government officials including governors do it? No, there's no money in it. 😞 

Stop trying to fight the consequences and resolve the cause ! 

I don't want to worry anyone, but pretty large areas are still under water from flooding.

 

Despite the PM2.5 situation we really don't need any more rain!!

 

try this instead....

So we are going to clean the air by releasing a bunch of greenhouse gas, CO2. What could go wrong? 

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

It's that time of year again. Burn offs, typical daily pollution from factories and vehicles plus seasonal temperature inversions equals dangerously high PM 2.5 levels. Unfortunately Band-Aids won't reverse this.

Note: If you want this thread to remain open please adhere to the above forum rules reminder.

What is the problem with trying it?

If it helps ok.

@transam

 

A troll post stalking another member about Cambodia and the replies have been removed.

A particular corporate agriculture group’s profits over public health.

 

 

CHATGPT's answer re: using dry ice ice to increase precipitation: 

 

Short answer up front: It’s not practical. Cloud-seeding with dry ice can sometimes increase precipitation locally, but to reduce PM2.5 across a country like Thailand you would need orders of magnitude of flights, dry ice, and suitable clouds — and even then removal would be incomplete and unreliable. 

1 hour ago, Furioso said:

I have noticed my balcony gets a ton of pollution dumped on it every day.

 

This is my 4th year here I've seen it get worse every year. 

 

I got here four years ago also and it's much worse now where I'm at in Bangkok. It was bad last year, but I don't even remember issues in the previous years.

I walk barefoot on our tile porch and I can feel a powdery substance on my toes. 

8 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

What is the problem with trying it?

If it helps ok.

Greenhouse gasses, huge energy requirements, marginal effectiveness, sources untouched, parliamentary funding required. The goal is good, but the method needs study.

29 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

So we are going to clean the air by releasing a bunch of greenhouse gas, CO2. What could go wrong? 

If they operate the dry ice factory in conjunction with an ethanol plant, they should be capturing the CO₂ that is a byproduct from the fermentation required to make ethanol.

 

7 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

If they operate the dry ice factory in conjunction with an ethanol plant, they should be capturing the CO₂ that is a byproduct from the fermentation required to make ethanol.

They could also get rid of smoking diesel trucks.

5 hours ago, motdaeng said:

the first step to reducing pm 2.5 would be to stop all kinds of burning, vehicle pollution, factory pollution, etc., and most importantly, to enforce all these measures with strict penalties. this is called tackling the root causes, which will have a real sustainable impact on air quality ...

 

You mean be proactive? 🤣 This is Thailand, they are reactive, and even then, not so much.

I could never work out why my swimming pool always went cloudy in December if it rained. Then I finally realized that it was all the Cr@p in the air dropping on my veranda, then washing into the pool when it rains. Even now I cannot walk outside to the garage without getting black feet.

2 minutes ago, Oink said:

I could never work out why my swimming pool always went cloudy in December if it rained. Then I finally realized that it was all the Cr@p in the air dropping on my veranda, then washing into the pool when it rains. Even now I cannot walk outside to the garage without getting black feet.

 

Yup, one of the first things I noticed after moving here, this country is dirty and polluted to death. 

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

So we are going to clean the air by releasing a bunch of greenhouse gas, CO2. What could go wrong? 

the CO2 was distilled out of the air  so

net zero

2 minutes ago, papa al said:

the CO2 was distilled out of the air  so

net zero

No, because it takes a lot of energy to do that.