WMOD00298 ‎(2)‎

• Project Name: Project Skywater
• Title: Project Skywater - Fiscal Year 1979 Report
• Prepared By: US Department of Interior Bureau of Reclaimation
• Date: 3/1/1981
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

Analyses of radar and awinsonde data will also help develop procedures for
evaluating possible do nwind effects. Two reports completed in connection
with the downwind stud are an extensive literature survey and a historical
review of all weather odification activities in North Dakota.

Other UND activities i clude: (1) coordination of pilot training programs at
UND's Department of Av ation, (2) participation in the design of work plans
and instrumentation at HIPLEX planning meetings, and (3) guidance in analysis
and evaluation efforts of State cloud seeding projects.

The 500-page final rep rt for this contract describes detailed results,
computer algorithms, a d graphical output of more than 16 major radar echo
data processing and an lysis programs. Climatological summaries of first-
echo development, inte cell separations, cell tracks, and echo frequency and
duration show the char cteristic structure of radar echoes at Miles City,
Montana.

CONTRACTOR: Colorado tate University, Fort Collins, Colorado
CONTRACT NO. 6-07-DR-2 020
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Thomas Vonder Haar and David Reynolds
CONTRACT PERIOD: July 20, 1975, to January 31, 1979
FY79 FUNDING: $10,327
PURPOSE: Collection a d analysis of digital satellite data

The goal of this contr ct was to develop techniques for using quantitative
satellite imagery to i crease the understanding of physical mechanisms that
produce convective rai fall on the High Plains. Specific objectives include:
(1) collection and quality control of digital visible and infrared geosynchro-
nous imagery during HI LEX field seasons, (2) development of analysis tools
to produce climatologi al summaries of convective clouds, (3) intensive case
studies of physical relationships between features observed in satellite
imagery and those foun in conventional data such as radar and rain gage
networks which are rel ted to rainfall, and (4) the development of satellite
sounding retrieval application for weather modification programs.

The principal achievem nt of this contract was the development of an ADVISAR
and a satellite ground station to receive directly digital GOES data.1!
This system was used t: (1) develop cloud size distributions for the
Montana and Kansas HIP EX field sites in 1976 and 1977, (2) provide video
tape loops of cloud development during these field seasons, (3) study preferred
scales of convective d velopment, and (4) provide intensive case study
information regarding onvective complex structure and evolution. Composite
mapping of radar and s tellite data in the same coordinate system was used to
show relationships bet een rainfall and cloud structure observed by satellite.
The importance of meso cale/cloud scale interaction in the production of
rainfall was demonstrated in satellite imagery analyses and in the development
of real-time interactive satellite estimates of rainfall using ADVISAR.

1/ Funding for the AD ISAR system was provided through a series of simultan-
eous contracts with NASA, NSF, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NOAA, and Water and
Power from 1975 to 1979.

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