Weather modification: hail suppression in Spain

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 305-311
Author(s):  
J. Aragonés de Inés
Keyword(s):  
Computer Technology ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
Horticultural Crops ◽  
Hail Suppression ◽  
Hail Damage ◽  
Cloud Models

Hail damage to agricultural and horticultural crops alone costs the equivalent of millions of dollars annually in Spain, as it does in many other hail-prone countries. The use of radar and computer technology facilitates hailstorm studies and enables the probability of hail formation to be predicted from mathematical cloud models. Modern aircraft give a much better chance of success to cloud-seeding techniques formerly dependent on rockets and ground-based generators.

Environmental effects of silver iodide emitted by hail suppression systems in Aragón (Spain)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Orellana-Macías ◽  
Jesús Causapé ◽  
Jorge Pey ◽  
Blas Valero-Garcés ◽  
Jesús Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Iodide ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
Hail Suppression ◽  
North East ◽  
State Research ◽  
Soils And Sediments ◽  
The Government ◽  
Suppression Systems

<p>Weather modification by means of cloud seeding techniques is widely implemented across the world. In areas where hail suppression systems are installed, silver iodide (AgI) particles are used.</p><p>Silver particles fall back to the surface thank to atmospheric deposition. In this research we follow a holistic approach to analyse silver accumulation in water, soils and sediments of Aragón (North-East Spain), where AgI emissions have been released for the last fifty years. We have also assessed silver bioaccumulation in plants and biota, and we have tested its effects in plant growth.</p><p>Our results show that silver concentrations in water and soils of areas covered by hail suppression networks are higher than in further areas, although concentrations are below legal thresholds. We have also observed that silver seems to be absorbed by plants and biota, which would act as a silver outflow and it may help to remove silver from the ecosystems.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgements</strong></p><p>This work was funded by Spanish State Research Agency and FEDER Funds via AgroSOS project (PID2019-108057RB-I00) and DONAIRE project (CGL2015-68993-R), and thanks to a pre-doctoral grant awarded by the Government of Aragon to J. M. Orellana-Macías (BOA 20/ 07/2017).</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Wyoming Weather Modification Pilot Project (WWMPP) Using Two Approaches: Traditional Statistics and Ensemble Modeling

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 2639-2660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy M. Rasmussen ◽  
Sarah A. Tessendorf ◽  
Lulin Xue ◽  
Courtney Weeks ◽  
Kyoko Ikeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Physical Experiment ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Ensemble Modeling ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe Wyoming Weather Modification Pilot Project randomized cloud seeding experiment was a crossover statistical experiment conducted over two mountain ranges in eastern Wyoming and lasted for 6 years (2008–13). The goal of the experiment was to determine if cloud seeding of orographic barriers could increase snowfall and snowpack. The experimental design included triply redundant snow gauges deployed in a target–control configuration, covariate snow gauges to account for precipitation variability, and ground-based seeding with silver iodide (AgI). The outcomes of this experiment are evaluated with the statistical–physical experiment design and with ensemble modeling. The root regression ratio (RRR) applied to 118 experimental units provided insufficient statistical evidence (p value of 0.28) to reject the null hypothesis that there was no effect from ground-based cloud seeding. Ensemble modeling estimates of the impact of ground-based seeding provide an alternate evaluation of the 6-yr experiment. The results of the model ensemble approach with and without seeding estimated a mean enhancement of precipitation of 5%, with an inner-quartile range of 3%–7%. Estimating the impact on annual precipitation over these mountain ranges requires results from another study that indicated that approximately 30% of the annual precipitation results from clouds identified as seedable within the seeding experiment. Thus the seeding impact is on the order of 1.5% of the annual precipitation, compared to 1% for the statistical–physical experiment, which was not sufficient to reject the null hypothesis. These results provide an estimate of the impact of ground-based cloud seeding in the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming that accounts for uncertainties in both initial conditions and model physics.

scholarly journals AgI Cloud Seeding Modeling for Hail Suppression of Cold Clouds

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohaila Javanmard ◽  
Mahla Karim Pirhayati
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Hail Suppression

scholarly journals Charged Particle (Negative Ion)-Based Cloud Seeding and Rain Enhancement Trial Design and Implementation

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1644
Author(s):  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Fengming Xue ◽  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Qiqi Wu ◽  
Zhou Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Negative Ion ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
Solid Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Hygroscopic Salts

China has been suffering from water shortage for a long time. Weather modification and rainfall enhancement via cloud seeding has been proved to be effective to alleviate the problem. Current cloud seeding methods mostly rely on solid carbon dioxide and chemicals such as silver iodide and hygroscopic salts, which may have negative impacts on the environment and are expensive to operate. Lab experiments have proved the efficiency of ion-based cloud seeding compared with traditional methods. Moreover, it is also more environmentally friendly and more economical to operate at a large scale. Thus, it is necessary to carry out a field experiment to further investigate the characteristics and feasibility of the method. This paper provides the design and implementation of the ion-based cloud seeding and rain enhancement trial currently running in Northwest China. It introduces the basic principle of the trial and the devices developed for it, as well as the installation of the bases and the evaluation method design for the trial.

A Critical Assessment of Hygroscopic Seeding of Convective Clouds for Rainfall Enhancement

2003 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 1219-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard A. Silverman
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Policy Statement ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Randomized Experiments ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Hygroscopic Particles

During the past decade, statistically positive results have been reported for four major, randomized hygroscopic seeding experiments, each in a different part of the world. Experiments on cold convective clouds using hygroscopic flares were carried out in South Africa and Mexico. Experiments on warm convective clouds using hygroscopic particles were carried out in Thailand and India. The scientific evidence for enhancing rainfall from convective clouds by hygroscopic seeding from these four randomized experiments is examined and critically assessed. The assessment uses, as a measure of proof of concept, the criteria for success of any cloud seeding activity that were recommended in the Scientific Background for the 1998 AMS Policy Statement on Planned and Inadvertent Weather Modifications, criteria that required both statistical and physical evidence. Based on a critical examination of the results of these four major, randomized hygroscopic seeding experiments, it has been concluded that they have not yet provided either the statistical or physical evidence required to establish that the effectiveness of hygroscopic seeding of convective clouds to increase precipitation is scientifically proven. The impressive statistical results from these experiments must be viewed with caution because, according to the proof-of-concept criteria, credibility of the results depends on the physical plausibility of the seeding conceptual model that forms the basis for anticipating seeding-induced increases in rainfall. The credibility of the hygroscopic seeding for microphysical effects hypothesis has been seriously undermined because it cannot explain the magnitude and timing of the statistically significant increases in precipitation that were observed. Theories suggesting that the microphysical effects of seeding-enhanced downdraft circulations to produce longer-lived clouds have been advanced; however, in the absence of any supporting physical or model evidence, they must be considered to be in the realm of speculation. These results do not alter this author's basic position; cloud seeding is advocated in situations where it is scientifically and operationally appropriate, and it is strongly recommended that an independent evaluation accompany each research or operational project in order that the science of weather modification benefit from the experience.

scholarly journals USULAN PEMANFAATAN TEKNOLOGI MODIFIKASI CUACA DENGAN GROUND-BASED GENERATOR UNTUK MENAMBAH DEBIT ALIRAN SUNGAI MAMASA, SULAWESI

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tri Handoko Seto ◽  
Erwin Mulyana
Keyword(s):  
Water Vapor ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Cloud Seeding ◽  
Weather Modification ◽  
West Side ◽  
Eastern Side ◽  
Steep Slopes

IntisariTelah didesain sebuah usulan pemanfaatan teknologi modifikasi cuaca (TMC) dengan ground-based generator (GBG) untuk menambah debit aliran sungai Mamasa di Sulawesi guna meningkatkan produksi listrik dari Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Air (PLTA) Bakaru. GBG adalah metode alternatif operasi penyemaian awan dari darat menggunakan menara. Penelitian tentang GBG telah selesai dilakukan di kawasan Puncak Bogor yang merupakan bagian dari sistem orografik Gunung Gede-Pangrango. Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) Mamasa memiliki kemiringan lereng antara 25%-40%. Topografi dengan kelerengan curam berada di bagian tengah, sebagian kecil di bagian hulu serta di bagian hilir DAS. Faktor orografi sangat dominan dalam pembentukan awan di DAS Mamasa. Uap air yang masuk ke DAS dipaksa naik oleh pebukitan di batas DAS sehingga terjadi pembentukan awan. Bagian tengah DAS sisi sebelah barat (Sikuku dan Sumarorong) memiliki curah hujan paling banyak sedangkan bagian tengah sisi sebelah timur (Rippung, Tabone, Tatoa dan Salembongan) memiliki curah hujan paling rendah. Hasil kajian topografi merekomendasikan wilayah Sikuku, Makuang dan Sumarorong sebagai lokasi menara GBG. Sementara itu,  Polewali direkomendasikan untuk lokasi radar. Karena DAS Mamasa adalah daerah yang rawan longsor maka pembangunan menara GBG disarankan dilakukan pada bulan bulan tidak banyak hujan yaitu pada bulan Juni sampai dengan Agustus.AbstractA proposed use of weather modification technology (TMC) with ground-based generator (GBG) to increase Mamasa river flow in Sulawesi to increase electricity production from Bakaru hydropower was designed. GBG is an alternative method of cloud seeding operations from the ground using towers. Research on GBG has been completed in the area of Puncak, Bogor, which is part of the orographic system Gunung Gede-Pangrango. Mamasa Watershed has a slope of between 25% -40%. Topography with steep slopes are in the middle, a small portion in the upstream and in the downstream of watershed. Orography is very dominant factor in the formation of clouds in the Mamasa watershed. Water vapor that enters the watershed is forced up by the hills in the watershed resulting in the formation of clouds. The middle part of west side (Sikuku and Sumarorong) have the most rainfall, while the central part of the eastern side (Rippung, Tabone, Tatoa and Salembongan) has the lowest rainfall. Results of the assessment of topography recommend the area of Sikuku, Makuang and Sumarorong as GBG tower locations. Meanwhile, Polewali recommended for radar location. Because Mamasa watershed is an area that is prone to landslides, the construction of the GBG tower suggested carried out during June to August.   

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