Mapping Cloud Seeding Potential Areas from MODIS Cloud Top Pressure Siti Nabila Shamsul Anuar (a), Rohayu Haron Narashid (a*), Tajul Rosli Razak (b)
a) Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perlis Branch, Arau Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
b) School of Computing Science, College of Computing, Informatics, and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Abstract
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that involves materials such as silver iodide or hygroscopic salts being introduced into clouds to stimulate rainfall. However, the variability of weather patterns and the unsuitability of clouds often limit its effectiveness. Low clouds at elevations of 0 to 2 km are favourable for cloud seeding operations (CSOs). Nowadays, the location of low clouds can be detected using satellite remote sensing. Therefore, this study aims to identify potential areas for CSOs by analysing remotely sensed low cloud distribution during the inter-monsoon season. The potential areas were retrieved from the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Cloud Top Pressure (CTP) data using an International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) threshold method and mapped with Geographic Information System (GIS) overlay analysis. The results show a strong spatial relationship between the identified areas and actual CSO locations conducted by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET) in 2019 and 2023, with low cloud thresholds between 680 and 1000 hectopascals (hPa). Thus, potential location areas based on low clouds can be detected and mapped using remote sensing satellite images. While some dams consistently met the criteria for seeding, others exhibited interannual variability due to complex atmospheric factors. This emphasizes the importance of real-time weather monitoring and adaptive strategies to improve the effectiveness of cloud seeding operations
Keywords: Cloud seeding, Cloud classification, Low-level cloud, Cloud Top Pressure
