Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Rain research <br /> <br />Much of the rain and hail research <br />is conducted together since both <br />rain and hail can originate Irom the <br />same types of clouds. Research into <br />both processes relies heavily on <br />cloud physics measurements 10 <br />study the seeding elleel on the start <br />of the precipilalion development <br />process. The specific rain project <br />objective is to document the effecl <br />of seeding on cumulus clouds and <br />to determine the mosl effective <br />treatment for rain enhancement. <br />Seeding experiments in the past <br />have shown that cloud seeding can <br />initiate the precipitation process in <br />certain clouds. Test clouds were <br />selected on the basis 01 specific <br />criteria of cloud lOp temperature, <br />water content and ice crystal con. <br /> <br />F"" <br /> <br />-- <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />centralion. II was also found that <br />silver iodide flares may be more <br />effective in enhancing precipitation <br />than dry ice pellets. Radar dafa <br />from the seeded clouds indicate that <br />distinct echo patterns can be at. <br />tributed to seeding. Seeding effects <br />may. therefore. be detected by <br />studying the evolution of the radar <br />echo in clOuds. <br />A cloud seeded in one experi- <br />ment, and probed with the cloud <br />physics aircraft, showed ice crystal <br />concentrations within the seeding <br />plume increased 100 times within <br />six minutes of seeding. A radar <br />echo was observed 10 minutes after <br />seeding, indicating that particles in <br />the cloud had grown to precipitation <br />sizes (raindrops). <br /> <br />~- <br /> <br />-,."-.....,............ <br /> <br />Large regions at Alberta prone to drought could benefit from increasecl rain- <br />fall if rain project experiments are successful. (Inset) Areas in Alberta where <br />drought occurs (shaded regions). <br /> <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />, <br />