WMOD00298 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SECTION II. HIGH PLAINS COOPERATIVE PROGRAM Project Summary Early in 1973, the 0 fice of Management and Budget asked Project Skywater to plan and direct H PLEX. HIPLEX is an extensive research project to develop a cloud seed ng technology capable of increasing useful summer rainfall over the se iarid High Plains - a technology that must be both economically feasib1 and socially and environmentally acceptable. . The Water and Power logical technology d developing seeding s of HIPLEX is the red cloud and precipitat and precipitation th prescribed manner. responsibility for t including the social the economic value 0 esources Service has primary responsibility for meteoro- velopment, including testing cloud seeding hypotheses, stems, and verifying seeding results. The primary goal ction of crucial scientific uncertainties about natural on processes and about the alterations in cloud structure t occur when summer convective clouds are seeded in a tate and local agencies in the High Plains accepted e important nonmeteorological technology development, and environmental aspects, and a careful assessment of additional rainfall. HIPLEX is being carried out according to a general design document that outlines a four-phase program. The phase 1 background studies developed the data base and knowledge of cloud and mesoscale systems as a foundation for the specific experime tal design of subsequent phases. The phase 2 single- cloud rain modificati n experiment consists of preparations for and execution of a series of explor tory experiments to establish the physical basis for augmenting precipitation from convective clouds. In phase 3, the area rain modification experime t applies the techniques developed under phase 2 in an experiment for augmen ing beneficial precipitation over an area of several thousand square kilom ters. Phase 4 is the transfer of the developed technol- ogy to other areas an other users within the High Plains. The HIPLEX experiment 1 design is evolving from previous atmospheric research experiences of Projec Skywater, other Government agencies, academic institu- tions, and the privat sector. Scientists from across the Nation contribute their knowledge to a eam effort. They meet frequently to discuss issues, resolve problems, and develop new procedures. The experimental design is deliberately flexible to permit innovations and addition of state-of-the-art knowledge. Experience from the 1 st three decades indicates that principal precipitation mechanisms differ fro region to region within the High Plains and that no one site would be rep esentative of the entire region. Therefore, HIPLEX established field sta fs and research staffs at three sites: Miles City in eastern Montana, the ig Spring-Snyder area of west-central Texas, and the Goodland-Co1by area 0 northwest Kansas. During fiscal year 19 9, activities at the HIPLEX site in Kansas were discon- tinued because analys s and experience showed that about two-thirds of the . 5