WMOD00307

• Title: A Proposal for Cooperative Weather Research Between the Santa Barbara County Water Agency and the US Department of Interior Bureau of Reclaimation in the Context of the Weather Damage Modification Program through the State of CA 2002-2003 Winter Season
• Date: 10/17/2002
• State: CA
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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EXEClITIVE SlIM\L\llV

Weather rvloditication activities and research in SOllthl.:rn California have long bc:cn lIsed to
compkmcnt the areas great water demands. Numerous operational programs currelltly exist (11
Calilllmia programs in 2002) and many research projccts have been previously complch:d, The
historical research projects have educated us about targeting. air-ground methodologies and
pOh:ntial bcndits. The attached proposed Santa Barbara County W<Ilcr Agency (SBCv..!A) -
California Dcpanmcnt of Water Resources (CDWR) project will build on the earlier research
accomplished. and using modern gaseOlls tracer technology and meteorological instrumentation
kad us to a better understanding of our physical and chemical environment in a maritimc cloud
mass and how to modil).' storms to bcst augment local precipitation for drought mitigation
purposes without harm or adverse allect to any aspect of thc environment.

Santa Barbara County, Clhlornia. has serwd as a Focal
area of weather modification research since IQ51.
suew A ha<; administered an operational program since
1981. With the Pacilic Ocean supplying unlimited
moisture to the atmosphere and cast-wcst mountain
ranges up to 6700' abovc sea lcvel acting as orographic
barriers to storms. the area serves as an ideal physical
envirollmcnt to conduct weather modification activities
to augment localized precipitation. Along \\ith this. it
also serves <l'i an ideal geographical laboratory to
explore research options and allow for technological
advanccment in thc understanding of thc science of
weather modilication.

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sncw A proposes a two-pha'ie research program to I)
build on earlier research completed in the area 2) strengthen conclusions and evidence of
additional rainfall created by artificial seeding of clouds and 3) fine-tunc the sncw A regional
seeding program. From this proposed research. we intend to establish and connect links in the:
"chain of CHills" between introduction of the seeding material (Agl) and the statistically
documented increase of precipitation. V/c have assembled a highly qualified team with local
e.xperience: in cloud seeding ope:rations. local meteorology. microphysical studies and tracer
technology. The established operational program will servc as a "platform" for both suggested
phases of the study. The tirst pha'ie will Focus on use of tracer and real-time sensors to measure
real time dispersion and ice particle formation. Data collected will provide an understanding of
plulllc transport and dilTusion and better insight regarding the microphysical charactcristics of ice
crystal nucleation in convective bands typical of storms passing through the Southcrn California
area. This will lead to better targeting and more cost effective implementation of precipitation
enhancement.

Water supply is always a critical issue in California. and with federal Facilities (Bradbury Dam-
Lake Cachuma and Twitchell Reservoir) and mandated enhancement of endangered species
habitat. the SI3CWA regional cloud see:ding program has many benefits. as well as drought
mitigation.

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