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<br />" <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Radar Operations <br /> <br />The NDCMP operates two WSR-74C radars equipped with TITAN Ver. 5.1.13, on Red Hat L1NUX <br />7.2. Data are ported to ARB's Internet web site in real,time, every 5 min, Antennas run at 5 rpm <br />during weather surveillance and seeding operations, 3 rpm during clear weather situations. A <br />contractor'provided GPS aircraft. f,light tracking system displays air\lraft locations in real-time. <br /> <br />Activities llssu~ <br /> <br />1. Recruiting and retention of qualified pilots and meteorologists continues to be an issue <br />that we are faced with. The economic slowdown has improved pilot availability, though this is not <br />likely a long-term solution. <br /> <br />2. Pilot and meteorologist training continues to be an issue we are addressing. Ground <br />school has continued to be revised over the last few years to take more advantage of case <br />studies utilizing radar, satellite, and video imagery. These training cases will incorporate <br />instruction by experienced staff and interaction by field personnel. <br /> <br />3. NDARB continues to pursue seeding buffer zones in eastern Montana. Permitting in <br />Montana currently requires completion of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Application <br />process for license and permits began in October 2001. To this point we have been unable to <br />meet their liability insurance requirements. After two public meetings in Montana last summer, a <br />bill to revamp Montana's weather modification regulations was introduced in the legislature. The <br />bill has passed the House, but is currently tabled in the Senate, <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />4. The industry needs a facility to conduct impartial baseline testing of seeding formulations. <br />. Relocation of the Colorado State University Cloud Chamber could accomplish this need. CSU is <br />amenable to moving the equipment, however, a viable suitor has not come to fore. UND has <br />shown interest, but currently lacks space. Some interest has also been shown by SDSM&T. <br /> <br />5. NDARB convened a panel of experts to review NDCMP operations and safeguards <br />procedures in January of 2003. The panel, Chaired by Dr. Harold Orville, presented its findings in <br />the form of a final report to the Board in March. ARB staff will be busy working to implement the <br />panel's recommendations over the next couple of years, <br /> <br />6, Work is ongoing to convert current NDCMP recordkeeping practices from paper to digital. <br />A comprehensive aircraft and meteorological system to be interfaced with the agency's 4th <br />Dimension database is under development. These systems will greatly improve data accuracy <br />and availability for program analysis and evaluations. <br /> <br />7. Research has been conducted to improve forecasting accuracy using sounding data. <br />Threshold values were developed for eight stability parameters, based on data from 2000-2002. <br />A sounding forecast can be produced in minutes, and 80% accurate. While this technique should <br />not be used as a stand,along method of forecasting, it will greatly enhance forecasting methods <br />already in place, and will diminish the likelihood of unforecasted convection. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />8. A timeliness study has been conducted, based on the 2002 NDCMP season, to <br />determine whether aircraft are seeding clouds during the appropriate cloud phase. This study <br />was similar to the research done by the School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, SD in 1981. <br />Results show that the percentage of storms seeded late were not reduced dramatically since <br />1981, however, the timeliness overall was improved significantly. This likely underscores the <br />ability of project personnel to act more quickly on opportunities developing in the target areas, but <br />also shows the inherent inability to deal with storms advecting into the target areas in a timely <br />fashion. <br />