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<br />mountain regions becaus~ of the scarcity of observations. As a consequence, <br /> <br />seeding is sometimes not conducted when appropriate weather exists, and <br /> <br />sometimes is conducted when local weather is unsuitable for seeding. <br /> <br />To overcome these deficiencies, it was felt that an automated system, using <br /> <br />propane as the seeding agent, could augment current seeding approaches. <br /> <br />The specific objectives of this research project were: <br /> <br />Develop a prototype automated liquid propane dispensing system <br />complete with meteorological sensors to monitor the local weather. <br /> <br />. Develop the algorithms to automatically operate the propane <br />dispensers when appropriate weather conditions are observed by the <br />meteorological sensors. <br /> <br />Test the prototype and algorithms (APES) <br /> <br />Since WATER monies (fiscal year 1993) were not available for the third <br />objective (fiscal year 1994), this report deals only with the first two. APES <br />will be tested and evaluated as an adjunct to the Utah/NOAA (National Oceanic <br /> <br />and Atmospheric Administration) research project which has an extensive field <br /> <br />program scheduled for the winter of 1994. A supplemental report will be made <br />concerning the third objective. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />A prototype remote-controlled liquid propane unit was designed and constructed <br />by David Reynolds and the California Division of Water Resources. It was felt <br />by the Denver Office staff (D-3720) that the California prototype could be <br />simplified to reduce costs. In 1992, after a visit by Roger Hansen and Arlen <br />Hilton to California to talk with David Reynolds, a simplified liquid propane <br /> <br />dispenser was constructed and tested in the mountains east of Fairview, Utah <br /> <br />(see photograph 1) during the winter of 1993 (Provo Projects Office, 1993). <br />This simplified remote controlled unit proved to be very reliable and provides <br /> <br />the dispenser technology for APES. <br /> <br />3 <br />