WMOD00318

• Title: A Cooperative Project Between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States
• Date: 9/1/1989
• Country: United States, Morocco
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

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A detailed scientific operations plan was developed for Morocco and used to guide
meteorological and technical personnel in the daily conduct of operations. Seeding operations
began in November 1984 and continued through May 1985. The same operational season
applied in subsequent field seasons through May 1989. As previously noted, after the spring
of 1986, aerial cloud seeding was accomplished by King Air aircraft operated from Kenitra.

Cloud seeding efficiency was less than desired for the first 2.5 years, when all seeding was
conducted by aircraft and field personnel were still receiving basic training. Seeding efficiency
increased substantially, from less than 15 to more than 70 percent, after ground-based silver
iodide generators were installed in January 1987 to provide more continuous seeding.

Field operations conducted from 1984 to 1989 resulted in the seeding of 15 to 25 storm events
during each season, with a total of 144 seeded days during the 5 years. Weather forecasts were
prepared for each day from November through April of each season. Radar surveillance was
maintained throughout all storms a~fecting the area except when equipment failed.

During 1985, a specially instrumented jet aircraft from the University of North Dakota was
operated in Morocco to collect cloud physics data pertaining to the seedability of winter clouds.
Beginning in 1987, the project's specially instrumented King Air collected detailed data on
cases considered important to physical studies. Analyses of these data have helped in
developing and refining seeding strategies and procedures.

2. Transfer of technology. - The technology transfer process was the most important aspect
of the project. The process involved the training of personnel, acquisition of vital equipment,
and the conduct of a demonstration cloud seeding program. Three phases of training were
employed with Moroccan scientists and technicians to provide a solid foundation for them to
fully conduct the project. The training consisted of (a) informal on-the-job training, (b) formal
seminars and lectures which presented the theoretical basis of weather modification and cloud
physics principles, and (c) joint collaborative studies which reinforced previous material and
dealt in depth with scientific information on Moroccan clouds and weather, cloud seeding
strategies, and improved evaluation of seeding results.

On-the-job training of electronics technicians and engineers was particularly emphasized in
their training. Scientists from the United States presented courses and seminars in Morocco,
and Moroccan scientists and engineers visited the United States where various training and
collaborative studies were conducted. Over 50 scientists received direct training from
20 American experts. Over 30 student-months of formal seminar training were received in
Morocco by meteorologists, technicians, and engineers. In addition, four scientists completed
their Master of Science degrees in the United States. Two other students were funded under
the USAID sector support training project and completed theses on topics related to the
project. Nine electronics technicians spent more than 23 person-months training in the United
States. Eight operational and four research meteorologists spent more than 25 person-months
conducting studies and learning about American scientific techniques on American projects
in the Unitt::d States. These scientists and engineers returned to Morocco to implement their
new knowledge on project operations and scientific and evaluation studies.