Protest over Thai air base hits Nasa climate study

Published on 29/06/2012 00:00

NASA has abandoned plans to carry out a major climate study in Asia this year as a request to use Thailand’s U-Tapao air base as the project’s operations centre has faced opposition from critics who say it could be a cover for military purposes. The project, called the “Southeast Asia Composition, Cloud, Climate Coupling Regional Study,” was to use satellites, aircraft and ground missions to study how air circulation during the monsoon affects the climate and air quality in south and Southeast Asia.

U-Tapao was a major base for US bombing missions during the Vietnam War, and some critics believe that the Nasa project is a threat to Thai sovereignty.