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<br />increase in IPC for the seeded distribution, with most <br />of the seeded minus nonseeded differences in the <br />range of 10 to 20 crystals per liter. These differences <br />are very similar to TAR 2D-C probe results from <br />previously published propane seeding case study <br />experiments which had lower propane rates released <br />from the HAS. The probability that the seeded and <br />nonseeded differences were caused by seeding, as <br />suspected, cannot be stated because of the limited <br />sample size and lack of crosswind control <br />observations. <br /> <br />All natural IPCs, averaged over the 40 minute EU <br />periods, were between lO to 90 per liter whatever the <br />SWE observed by nearby gauge GTR. This is in <br />good agreement with a previously published much <br />larger data set which showed that all but a small <br />portion of natural TAR IPCs were between 10 to 200 <br />per liter when precipitation was 0.0 I inch per hour or <br />more. These findings demonstrate that natural IPCs <br />are seldom low enough to prevent masking of <br />seeding effects in case studies. Another important <br />implication is that natural snowfall of detectable (and <br />meaningful) rates requires a minimum IPC of at least <br />lOpeI' liter on the plateau top, A minimum of 20 per <br />liter is probably a more realistic threshold, Seeding <br />attempts which cannot achieve higher IPCs are <br />unlikely to produce useful snowfall, especially since <br />seeded crystals tend to have more limited growth <br />times and, therefore, smaller masses than natural <br />crystals. <br /> <br />Summary of Randomized Experiment <br /> <br />To summarize, the essential features of the Utah <br />randomized experiment were: <br /> <br />. Used propane relea,ses to treat SL W clouds <br />which were often too warm to be seeded with AgI. <br /> <br />. Conducted using a seeding site already <br />demonstrated to provide routine targeting. <br /> <br />. Used a fully automated operation with <br />seeding or placebo treatment triggered by SL W <br />detection. <br /> <br />. Experimental Units (EUs) blocked into pairs <br />with one EU randomly seeded. <br /> <br />. Target precipitatiort gauges operated along <br />the expected seeding plume trajectory. <br /> <br />. Control gauge operated crosswind to <br />monitor natural precipitation variations. <br /> <br />. Supporting wind and other observations <br />collected for partitioning EUs into similar <br />subpopulations. <br /> <br />. Applied three sophisticated statistical testing <br />procedures, all using the control gauge as a covariate <br />to substantially reduce the variance caused by natural <br />snowfall fluctuations. <br /> <br />Summary of Statistical Conclusions <br /> <br />Results of statistical testing of the available ElJ <br />sample population were considered significant and <br />"strongly suggestive" if the probability of indicated <br />seeding-caused differences between seeded and <br />nonseeded EUs not being by chance was at least 95 <br />out of toO (a-level = 0.05). Results were considered <br />"somewhat suggestive" if the same probability was <br />from 90 to 95 out of 100 (a-level = 0,06 to 0.10). <br /> <br />Results to follow discuss the four gauges consisting <br />of (1) GSC midway between the seeding location and <br />(2) GTR, the primary intended target gauge on the <br />west edge of the plateau top, (3) GSO located I km <br />due south of GTR also on the plateau top, and (4) <br />GDN, the only gauge downwind ofGTR, about 6.5 <br />kIn plume travel distance from the seeding site. <br />Because results vary among the statistical tests, each <br />having different strengths and weaknesses, the <br />predominant findings of two or more tests will be <br />noted below. The results of statistical testing of the <br />Utah randomized experiment can be briefly <br />summarized as follows: <br /> <br />. Tests ofthe entire sample of98 EUs without <br />any partitioning were strongly suggestive of a real <br />seeding effect of increased snowfall at gauges GSC, <br />GTR and GSO. <br /> <br />. Results for the 98 EUs were inconclusive at <br />the downwind gauge GDN meaning no valid <br />conclusion can be made whether seeding was <br />effective there or not. <br /> <br />. Results for the 69 ElJs partitioned by <br />southwest quadrant seeding site winds, known to <br />transport seeding plumes by the primary target, were <br />also strongly suggestive of snowfall increases at the <br />GTR and GSO gauges on the plateau top. Resuhs <br />were somewhat suggestive at the GSC gauge closest <br />to the propane dispensers, and also at the downwind <br />gauge GDN furthest from the seeding location. <br /> <br />. Comparisons of the wind direction- <br />partitioned 69 EUs with all available 98 EUs n~v'ealed <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />4iILu-.i-. . <br />