WMOD00269 ‎(2)‎

• Contract/Permit #: 02FC810810
• Title: Weather Damage Modification Program for Cooperative Weather Research between States and the US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclaimation
• Date: 11/19/2002
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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SECTION A

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A.1 BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is requesting
proposals for Research and Studies sponsored by the Weather Damage Modification
Program (WDMP). Through this program, Reclamation is forming partnerships with
states located within Hawaii and 17 states served by Reclamation, to address the
potential for the mitigation of weather damage through weather modification techniques.
The goal of the program is to improve and evaluate physical mechanisms to limit
damage due to weather phenomena such as drought and hail, and enhance water
supplies through a regional weather modification research program, and to transfer
validated technologies for implementation on operational programs.

Weather-related natural disasters in the United States annually result in the losses of
billions of dollars. Drought, hail, floods, and tornadoes are among the most common
causes. This WDMP is consistent with national objectives to strengthen disaster
mitigation capabilities of industry, and local, state, and federal governments, and with
Reclamation's role as a water resource management agency.

Efforts to directly mitigate weather-related losses through atmospheric water
management technology (cloud seeding), are presently being conducted in many
states. However, local sponsors of these programs fund only the projects themselves,
and provide few resources to scientifically evaluate questions on their efficacy, scientific
basis, safety, and extra-area effects. While state agencies are charged with the project
regulation, and many also provide significant cost-sharing, little is being done to answer
the questions that will ultimately determine how these technologies are improved and
refined.

Over the last ten years, there have been significant advances in weather and climate
forecasting, as well as computer modeling, remote sensing, chemistry, and physics. In
addition, limited research on weather modification technologies has been conducted,
primarily by other countries. Both clearly indicate that there now exists the real potential
to develop a new generation of weather modification technologies that will be more
effective and less expensive.

The report of the National Academy of Sciences Workshop for Assessing the Current
State of Weather Modification Science as a Basis for Future Environmental
Sustainabilityand Policy Development (December 2000), New Opportunities in Weather
Research, Focusing on Reducing Severe Weather Hazards and Providing Sustainable
Water Resources, that was prepared for the National Research Council, Board on
Atmospheric Sciences and climate, concluded that, "based on the current state of the
science, the new technology developments, and potential for contributing significantly to
our Society's safety and environmental sustainability - the time is right to take
advantage of new opportunities in weather research to focus on reducing severe
weather hazards and providing sustainable water resources - through a well-balanced,

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