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<br />opportunity have been met. As mentioned earlier however, continuous SL W and <br />temperature monitoring can provide useful guidance to WxMod decisions. <br /> <br />Other issues that have been identified are: 1) many current operational programs have <br />serious problems with targeting sufficient concentrations of seeding agent into desired <br />cloud regions, calling into question the increases claimed by some WxMod proponents,7 <br />and 2) lack of a statistical randomization component. By having approximately 10"/0 of <br />the seeding events randomized, a project can achieve statistically significant results on <br />the effectiveness of the seeding, depending on the time scale.s The failure to fund these <br />relatively inexpensive items is often due to budget constraints, the desire for good public <br />relations, or the ability to claim success without having to fuss with rigorous and <br />defensible scientific methods. <br /> <br />Refer to Appendix B for a discussion of technical uncertainties regarding weather <br />modification for precipitation enhancement. In general they are summarized here. There <br />are scientific and methodological issues regarding microphysics, verification, nucleation, <br />seeding dispersion, and separation of seeding effects from natural ones. Other issues <br />include: cloud properties and dynamics; cloud modeling; the accuracy of <br />instrumentation, and; the need for accurate numerical simulation and multi-parameter, <br />three-dimensional observations. It should also be noted that a percentage increase in <br />snowpack does not translate to a corresponding percentage increase in runoff. This is <br />because of differing basin characteristics, one primary factor being soil type. The <br />development of a new cloud seeding program should consider addressing some of the <br />technical uncertainties in Appendix B. <br /> <br />Societal Attitudes <br /> <br />The perceived value of cloud seeding must incorporate more than just economics and the <br />effectiveness of the technology. There is concern about human intervention in weather <br />processes, from both an environmental and spiritual perspective. Given the extremely <br />high level of complexity of this science there is much ignorance or misunderstanding <br />about cloud seeding and some people think of it as interfering with nature. Many do not <br />realize that almost all human activities modify nature, particularly since the time of the <br />industrial revolution. Attitudes may be shaped by fear of the potential effects of cloud <br />seeding such as floods or avalanches that may cause property loss (ASCE, 1995). There <br />are those that are convinced that weather modification is possible and also those that <br />believe that it is a fraud, irrespective of the scientific basis. It should be noted that the <br />recent funding of a five-year pilot project by the State of Wyoming was in part the result <br />of a successful scoping and public outreach program by the Wyoming Water <br />Development Commission. A public education and outreach component should be <br />considered in any new cloud seeding program. <br /> <br />7 Personal communication. Arlin Super, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, retired. <br />· Personal communication. Jon Medina and Steven Hunter, U.S_ Bureau of Reclamation. <br /> <br />-19- <br />