Indonesia ramps up cloud-seeding ops across four provinces to combat haze

Authorities are intensifying weather-modification across four Indonesian provinces, using dry ice to disperse smoke and sodium chloride to seed rain clouds. In South Sumatra, eight sorties since Oct. 16 used 1,600 kg of NaCl and 4,000 kg of dry ice, while a supporting base in Lampung deployed an additional 4,800 kg of dry ice over six flights. Central Kalimantan has flown 48 sorties since Aug. 26, releasing 43,800 kg of NaCl and generating 67.45 million m³ of rain.

South Kalimantan’s 23 sorties since Oct. 10 delivered 23,000 kg of NaCl, producing 222.67 million m³ of rain across multiple districts. West Kalimantan conducted 107 sorties since Aug. 22, using 98,800 kg of NaCl and creating 471.2 million m³ of rainfall, with rain reported in dozens of districts and cities. The operations have lowered particulate matter levels and improved visibility, and officials say they will continue until conditions improve.