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

V. PROPOSED NATIONAL R&D PROGIUM

This chapter describes the research and experimentation that will make up
the National Weather Modification Program, 'with emphasis on the first 5 years
(FY 1982-86). The discussion of each major component of the program includes
a brief statement of the objectives, a listing of the program elements and the
technical or societal aspects addressed by each element, a description of
plans for projects presently approved in the President's budget and for future
program options, an assignment of priorities to the future options, and a
discussion of agency participation and responsibilities. The research and
development programs are presented under the following headings: (A)
fundamental research; (B) environmental, legal, economic, and social research;
(C) precipitation enhancement; (D) hurricane amelioration; (E) other severe
storm abatement; (F) stratus and fog dissipation; and (G) international
projects.

A. FUNDAMENTAL WEATHER MODIFICATION RESEARCH

1. Introduction

Major advances in weather modification capability will come about only
through a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric processes, and the
goal or the rundamental research element of the national program is to
understand atmospheric processes under natural and artificially altered
condi tions. While there are still many fundamental uncertainties in our
knowledge of these processes, progress is being made in many areas of
atmospheric research. A concerted effort is needed to assemble the available
information, investigate crucial gaps, and perform the analyses and
evaluations needed to yield a set of general principles. The fundamental
research program specifically includes (1) research on cloud microphysics and
cloud interactions, which includes studies of the origin of ice, entrainment
and diffusion, and interactions of cloud-scale dynamics with microphysics;
(2) investigations of cloud environment and mesoscale processes and
interactions, which includes boundary-layer processes, cloud-to-cloud
interactions, and prediction; (3) studies of the geographical and seasonal
variability of cloud processes and cloud characteristics; and (4) research and
development to improve instrumentation and facilities needed for key
measurements that are fundamental to the overall objectives or weather
modification research.

2. Research Program

Fundamental research consists of three presently approved programs--the
~CAR Convective Storms Research Program, the Cumulus Dynamics and Microphysics
Program (CDHP), and the Small Projects Research Program--and 1:"...0 proposed
programs--the Ice Crystal Processes Program and the Geographic Variability of
Precipitation Efficiency Program.

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