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<br />2. <br /> <br />FIELD PROGRAMS: SITE SELECTION, SCHEDULING, <br />AND GENERAL WEATHER <br /> <br />2.1 Research Areas and Site Selection <br /> <br />2.1.1 The Early 1987 Field Program. - An initial conceptual program plan was formulated by <br />Reclamation in July 1986. At that time, preliminary findings from the ongoing feasibility study were <br />reviewed, key areas of uncertainty established, and a range of budget-dependent program options developed. <br />It was immediately agreed that a program integrating both ground and aircraft observing systems would <br />provide the most effective approach for estimating winter storm augmentation potentials. Ground instrument <br />systems were available that could provide essentially continuous measurements of certain key parameters. <br />These instruments could be supplemented by an adequately equipped research aircraft to provide more <br />dctailed measurements on an intermittent basis. A detailed description of the various instrumentation <br />systems is found in section 3. <br /> <br />Critical items, which would necessitate long lead times to procure or negotiate, were identified and efforts <br />started in these areas. Primary among these items were selecting field sites, obtaining services of an <br />adequate research aircraft, and establishing working arrangements with the necessary FAA (Federal Aviation <br />Administration) groups. Initial efforts were focused on development of site selection criteria for both the <br />gcncral study area and specific function sites. The criteria and constraints established were as follows: <br /> <br />a. The study area had to be located so that additional water produced through future cloud <br />seeding would primarily augment either the Verde or Salt Rivers or both. <br /> <br />b. A significant amount of terrain above about 2 km elevation had to lie within the study area to <br />induce orographic uplift to intensify storm clouds and provide seasonal snowpack storage (although <br />Arizona snowpacks often partially melt during warm periods between storms). <br /> <br />c. The airspace over the study area had to be sufficiently free of conflicts so that research aircraft <br />could be operated without undue FAA air traffic control restrictions. <br /> <br />d. A suitable ground-observing site had to be available in the study area near the crestline of the <br />Mogollon Rim. This site had to have commercial electrical power, adequate-sized forest clearings <br />for proper equipment siting, good all-weather road access, telephone service, and convenient location <br />for crew accommodations. <br /> <br />e. . An airport infrequently closed to flight operations during storm periods had to be available <br />within about 20 minutes flight time from the study area. Minimum requirements for this facility <br />included: a published instrument approach procedure; sufficient runway length to accommodate the <br /> <br />5 <br />