WMOD00279

• Title: Atmospheric Sciences - Alberta Research Council
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: General Information

Introduction

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The experimental region fOf hail
research In Alberta is indicated on
this map of hailstorms during one
summer season. The map is based
on data 'rom close monitoring on the
ground and from weather fadar
within the region and illustrates the
severe problem of haifstorms
throughout Alberta.

Precipitation Process Chain

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Weather modification researchers are
studying each major link in the
precipitation process chain to
understand the connection between
large-scale weather systems and
hail.

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Hail damage to crops costs Alberta
farmers $100 million each year.
Furthermore. flood and drought
destroy millions of dollars more in
crops and other farm property.
Alberta agriculturalists, therefore,
have had considerable interest in
weather modificalion that could
reduce these losses.
The Alberta Research Council,
through its Atmospheric Sciences
Department in the Natural
Resources Division, acts as the
central agency for weather modifica-
tion research and operations in the
province. Alberta Agriculture is the
primary funding agency.
The Atmospheric Sciences Depart-
ment operates four major projects
to research the effects of cloud
seeding on precipitation processes
to develop weather modification
management technologies for Alber-

la. Since hail causes the greatest
damage to Alberta crops, hail sup.
pression is the largest project.
Another project is dedicated to
research on stimulating rain to help
drought-stricken areas. A third
involves the ellect of gas plant
sullur emissions on precipitation
processes. A fourth involves
research on the potential increase
of snowfall from winter clouds over
the Rocky Mountains of southern
Alberta in order to increase spring
run-off for irrigation.
Other research includes
assistance in developing a flood
forecasting system through the
application of radar meteorology to
hydrology. and research on whether
the combination of satellite and
radar imagery can be used to
develop specialized weather
forecasts for the prairies.

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Some storms can produce hailstones the size of small grapefruit, destroying
entire crops and other property. The Alberta Research Council has been con-
ducting experiments to prove the theory that seeding clouds with artificial ice
crystals will restrict the growth of hailstones to a less destructive size.