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<br />yield is increased by augmented rainfall even in relatively wet years. <br />Significant benefits do not necessarily occur every year, nor do all crops <br />benefit from additional rain at a particular time. <br /> <br />Table II-2--Average Percentage Change in Yields for Various Crops for Dry, <br />Normal, and Wet Years with a Simulated 10-Percent Increase in <br />Precipitation. <br /> <br />Crop Dry Years Normal Years Wet Years <br />Coma 2.8 2.2 1.1 <br />Wheata 2.3 2.3 2.5 <br />a 3.0 3.3 3.6 <br />Soybeans <br />Range forageb 8.5 8.5 8.5 <br /> <br />~ Main production areas <br />17 Western states west of 1000W meridian <br /> <br />Annual agricultural crop losses from hail in the United States range from <br />$0.5 to $1.0 billion and represent over 1 percent of the annual national crop <br />value (1975 dollars). Hail losses are more 'common in the Great Plains and the <br />western Corn Belt regions, and some areas of the Great Plains suffer as much <br />as 10-percent average annual loss frgm hail. Losses for county-sized areas in <br />individual years can be much higher. Table II-3 summarizes the estimated <br />impact of weather changes on production in key production areas with simulated <br />30-percent decreases in hail damage an1 simulated 10-percent increases in <br />precipitation during critical periods. <br /> <br />Although energy production from hydroelectric facilities represents only <br />a modest portion of the national electrical energy capacity. it could be <br />significantly increased by additional water provided jY precipitation <br />enhancement projects. For example, the 1.7 billion m additional flow <br />estimated to be possible in the Colorado River could increase revenues from <br />hydroelectric capacity and power generation by as much as $14.5 million, based <br />on current costs. Increased hydroelectric output could also reduce <br />consumption of gas and oil now used to provide that amount of electricity. <br />Additional cooling water might permit the construction of more thermal and <br />nuclear generating plants. Oil shale development in the western United States <br />would put additional, burdens on already scarce water resources. Coal slurry <br />pipelines would also require additional water. Wintertime energy demands in <br />certain sections of the United States could be decreased by the increased <br />sunshine that would result from seeding to dissipate supercooled layer <br />clouds. Energy would be conserved by fog dispersal at major airports. which <br />would reduce waiting times (and hence fuel consumption) for take-offs and <br />landings. <br /> <br />4 <br />Sonka, S. T.. "Economics of Weather ~odification: A Review." Report of <br />Investigation 89. Illinois State Water Survey, Urbana, 57 pp.. 1973. <br /> <br />- 9 - <br />