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<br />a. The physical equipment to be employed is an Eggers Co. hail <br />cannon, consisting of a cylindrical type, pot bellied, activity <br />chamber with an upward exit point narrowed to concentrate and <br />prolong the release of energy out of the activity chamber and to <br />emit that energy through a conical type barrel, larger at the top <br />and smaller at the bottom, permitting the escape of the sound <br />waves from the activity chamber, and 'continuing in a conical shape. <br />The hail cannon is powered by acetylene gas injected into the <br />activity <<!J.:9-mp",ra.I1d- i,gnJte.liby spa;rjc p+ugs,.ba1!'lTI<:;ing ,thE! amount <br />of'acetylene in theactivitycham~er to.the amountofair:available <br />so that the energy is generated entirely within the activity <br />chamber, and permitting the expulsion of this energy in a conical <br />pattern upward into the clouds at an angle perpendicular to the <br />sttrfa-ce.;-----'I'he-canmm-w:iH-----eperatc on inrer--va-l-s--e?-6--seeoflds------. <br />producing a succession of sound waves, sequenced into the suspect <br />cloud. The cannon is actuated by remote control and fitted with <br />its own radio that accepts its own unique signal. The activity <br />sequence will continue until it is terminated. <br /> <br />b. The decision as to when to activate the cannon is by <br />visual observation by persons with long experience in saguache <br />County observing and noting the activities of the types of clouds <br />most likely to produce hail stones. Upon observation of a cloud <br />determined to be a hazard to a particular protected area the <br />observer makes a judgemental decision to activate the cannon a <br />minimum of 10 minutes prior to the arrival of the suspect cloud and <br />activates the cannon. Immediately after the cloud has passed over, <br />the cannon is deactivated. <br /> <br />c. The normal appearance of hail clouds is in the afternoon <br />hours on days with considerable build up of cumulus activity in <br />the mountains to the west along the continental Divide anp to the <br />north of the protected area. The normal movement of the suspect <br />hail clouds in the San Luis Valley is in a west to east direction <br />while crossing the continental divide. After crossing the divide <br />the cumulus activity may move erratically but generally to.the east <br />and south. The activation of the cannon is a judgmental decision <br />by the operator, timed for a minimum of 10 minutes prior to the <br />estimated time that the suspect hail cloud may pass over a <br />protected field. It is estimated that the hail cannon will not be <br />in operation longer than 60 minutes continuously, and that within <br />that period of time the danger will have passed the protected <br />field. <br /> <br />d. The beginning of the operational season will be mid June <br />when usually the first problem hail clouds form and continuing <br />forward and reaching the peak at approximately the end of July and <br />finally concluding approximately the first of September. It is <br />noted that these dates are general dates, in as much as there has <br />been noted hail activity in the San Luis Valley as early as late <br />May and continuing until late Sept. However, most of the crops <br />that will be affected by hail will have been harvested or reached <br />their maturity by early September, therefore, the need for the <br />operation of the cannon as to those particular crops will be <br />