Efforts to mitigate the worsening haze in Sarawak through cloud seeding are likely to offer only short-term relief, according to experts, who emphasize that addressing the underlying causes—namely the forest and peatland fires and prevailing dry conditions—is essential for a sustainable solution.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government’s plan to conduct cloud-seeding operations from September 3 to 5 in 13 locations across Sarawak, Kedah, and Perlis. However, climatologists and meteorologists caution that the impact of cloud seeding may be limited.
Prof Dr Fredolin Tangang, a climatologist at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, explained that the success of cloud seeding depends largely on the presence of suitable clouds. He noted that such conditions are typically scarce during El Nino episodes, which are currently developing and expected to influence the region through November. The El Nino phenomenon tends to bring reduced rainfall, resulting in drier soils and vegetation across southern parts of Southeast Asia, including Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, thereby increasing the vulnerability to fires.
“As long as the fires continue, the threat of transboundary haze will not go,” Fredolin said. He urged a shift from reactive measures to preventive strategies by utilizing the advance forecasts of El Nino, which are available six to nine months beforehand. He advocated for early identification of high-risk areas, improved peatland water management, stricter regulations on open burning, and the strategic deployment of firefighting resources.
Universiti Malaya meteorologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah described cloud seeding as akin to a “placebo,” pointing out that the haze particles already present in the atmosphere can act as natural cloud nuclei, reducing the effectiveness of artificial seeding. Azizan highlighted the scale of the haze, noting a smoke plume exceeding 300 kilometers due to fires in Sumatra that constantly replenish airborne particles.
He illustrated that rain induced by cloud seeding over a limited area—sometimes only about 50 kilometers in extent, typical of thunderstorms—would only temporarily reduce haze concentration. Prevailing winds could return the smoke within hours, resulting in fleeting improvements without addressing the root causes.
“Due to the scale, there is no quick fix available,” Azizan said. He suggested that a more significant and lasting improvement might only come with the seasonal shift in monsoon winds from southwesterly to easterly and northeasterly.
Both experts concurred that while cloud seeding might provide limited and temporary relief, comprehensive efforts to control and prevent fires and manage dry conditions are essential to resolving the haze crisis in the region.