WMOD00287

• Title: The National Weather Modification Plan
• Prepared For: CAO Subcommittee on Weather Modification
• Prepared By: The Working Group of the CAO Subcommittee on Weather Modification
• Date: 2/13/1981
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

E. AGENCY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

NSF, Wl'RS, and NOAA will continue to be the prtnc1pal participants in the
National Weather Modification Program. Each will play a key role in at least
one major program area and will actively participate in others.

NSF Will be deeply involved in the Fundamental Research Program and
participate in the Environmental, Legal, Economic, and Social Research
Program. NSF will also provide facilities support to precipitation
enhancement: field projects through NCAR and will support university and NCAR
research on severe storms. NSF will also contribute to the support of
university participation in International Programs.

Wl'RS Will have major responsibility for precipitation enhancement and
will support Site-speCific societal and environmental studies and fundamental
research in conjunction wi th its field experiments. w'PRS will also be
responsible for technology transfer of precipitation enhancement methodology
under the Federal/State/Local Cooperative Program and Will play a role in the
international program area through its bilateral agreement with Canada in
HIP LEX .

NOAA will have major responsibilities for moderation of hurricanes and
other severe storms and will participate in the precipitation enhancement
program area by developing a field experiinent in the Midwest and by
participating in selected e.~periments being conducted by WPRS. NOAA will also
be responsible for evaluating selected state and local operational
precipitation enhancement programs under the Federal/State/Local Cooperative
Program. NOAA will support societal and environmental studies in conjunction
with the Midwest Cumulus Experiment and hurricane modification. NOAA provides
the Permanent Representative to the W~O and consequently will maintain
responsibility for international projects undertaken through the WMO. NOAA
will participate in the Fundamental Research Program through several major
projects.

Several other agencies may playa lesser role in one or more of the
program areas. The Department of Defense (DOD), for example, will perform
studies which may contribute to future research in fog and stratus
dissipation. DOD and NASA will provide aircraft support to hurricane
modification research on a reimbursable basis. The Departments of
Transportation and Energy may also help develop a fog and stratus dissipation
program. The Department of Agriculture will examine the possibility of
nationwide studies to identify potential benefits, adverse impacts, and
related societal issues involved in applying weather modification technology
to agriculture nationwide.

The Department of State will continue to have final responsibility for
approving and coordinati~~ all aspects of the National Weather Modiiication
Program that have international implications.

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