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<br />:.~ ~ '~ <br /> <br />gages were studied with regard to <br />accuracy and reliability in heavy <br />snow. strong winds. and freeze-thaw <br />conditions. Acoustic sounders were <br />used for detection of stable layers <br />which would affect decisions about <br />seeding techniques. The SKYWATER <br />5-cm radar was considered as an <br />evaluation tool for estimating <br />areal precipitation and as a real- <br />time instrument for direction of <br />aircraft seeding. <br /> <br />5. SUMMARY <br /> <br />This paper was intended to draw together the <br />overall goals and objectives of the preliminary <br />measurements being made in support of the <br />SCPP. Details and results of these measurements <br />will be presented in other papers at this <br />conference and in future reports. <br /> <br />Five important questions were stated which <br />should be answered before a long-term experiment <br />is initiated in the Sierra Nevada. These <br />five questions could be summarized as follows: <br /> <br />What are natural clouds like? <br />Can they be seeded? <br />If they can be seeded. how should they be <br />seeded? <br />If they are seeded. would they produce <br />significant benefits and could the <br />seeding be evaluated? <br />What is the best method of measuring <br />seeding effects? <br /> <br />The preliminary meteorological measurements <br />conducted in the winters of 1976-77 and 1977- <br />78 were then discussed in light of the previous <br />questions. These measurements were organized <br />around four main objectives: <br /> <br />To obtain microphysical and dynamical <br />case studies. <br />To measure transport and diffusive proper- <br />ties of Sierra storms. <br />To develop a cloud climatology. <br />To evaluate instrumentation and research <br />techniques. <br /> <br />An improved understanding of natural preClpl- <br />tation mechanisms and transport and diffusion <br />characteristics in Sierra Nevada storms <br />should precede a final design for testing <br />seeding hypotheses. If sufficient knowledge <br />about Sierra storms can be gleaned from the <br />preliminary meteorological measurements made <br />in the winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78 and <br />incorporated into the final design. the SCPP <br />will have gotten off to an excellent beginning. <br /> <br />164 <br />