Laserfiche WebLink
<br />field studies. NSF also supports the National Center for Atmospheric Research <br />(NCAR). Several key field experiments have been supported by the Foundation, <br />including the Climax project, 10 years of randomized experiments in the Rocky <br />Mountains to increase snowfall from fN'inter orographic clouds; Project <br />\{hitetop, randomized seeding of summertime convective clouds over the Great <br />Plains; and the National Hail Research Experiment in northeastern Colorado. <br /> <br />NSFcurrently supports basic research in weather modification in three <br />program areas: (1) the Experimental Meteorology and Weather Modification <br />Program, (2) the NCAR Convective Storms Division, and (3) the NCAR Atmospheric <br />Technology Division. <br /> <br />1. The Experimental Meteorology and Weather Modification Program (FY 1980-- <br />$1.3 Million) <br /> <br />This program supports grants which have specific weather modification <br />objectives. It addresses promising research opportuni:ties over a broad range <br />of topics in both deliberate and inadvertent modification. Emphasis is given <br />to basic research which lies outside mission agency programs. In some cases <br />this research is conducted in collaboration with mission agency projects to <br />add to a~isting data and/or to build the scientific basis for the mission <br />agency program. <br /> <br />The program provides direct support to two major projects, the <br />Precipitation Enhancement Project (PEP) and the Cooperative Convective <br />Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE). Joint support, fN'ith NOAA, of the PEP site <br />selection phase was discussed earlier in this chapter. This support is <br />expected to continue into FY 1981. CCOPE is a cooperative field experiment in <br />fundamental research in weather modification involving the NSF Experimental <br />Xeteorology and Weather Modification Program, the NCAR Convective Storms <br />Division, and the fNPRS Office of Atmospheric Resources Research. The field <br />program to be conducted in eastern Montana during the summer of 1981 is <br />described further in section V.A. The following are some or the research <br />activities included in the current Experimental Meteorology and Weather <br />Modification Program: <br /> <br />o Basic studies of cloud and precipitation processes. <br /> <br />o Testing new statistical evaluation methods. <br /> <br />o Physical and statistical studies of long-range effects of cloud <br />seeding. <br /> <br />o Exploratory studies of stratus cloud clearing. <br /> <br />o Studies of the occurrence and effects of man-made cirrus clouds. <br /> <br />o Improving design and evaluation techniques for operational weather <br />modification projects. <br /> <br />o Laboratory studies of ice nucleating materials. <br /> <br />- 21 - <br />