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0025o-~ Colorado River Municipal Water District; Meteorology Research, Inc.; Texas A&M University; and Texas Tech University. The 1975 summer season at the Big Spring-Snyder site was primarily devoted to collecting radar data on cells (individual clouds), rawinsonde data to identify thermodynamic properties, and rainfall data to learn more about precipitation characteristics. An intensive mesoscale experiment was initiated in 1976 to obtain data for the study of cloud formation, growth, intensity, and move- ment, as well as interrelationships between convective activity and the environment. Case studies in 1976 show that, in most instances, both surface and upper air conditions were altered significantly by convective activity and vice versa. Findings demonstrate the neces- sity of mesoscale data in assessment of environmental conditions associated with convective activity and for determining interactions of convective clouds with their environment. A real-time surface network of stations appears to be a valuable tool for determining the location, occurrence, and intensity of convective activity. In the 1978 field season, internal cloud processes were examined for the first time to provide additional insight into the environmental effects of the rainmaking processes of a cloud. In addition to the mesoscale experiment, satellite studies provide descriptions of cloud events, and it was learned that the maximum number of isolated clouds occur during the afternoon. Clouds in the project area tend to be simple in structure and short-lived. It is uncertain at this point whether they are dominated by the coalescence or ice-phase process, or a combination of both. Comparisons of radar and aircraft data show that meaningful radar reflectivity can be obtained near cloudbase. An economic evaluation of possible precipitation augmentation effects on product i on of various crops shows that the greates t response to increased rainfall usually occurs when precipitation is received before the crop is planted or during its growing season. The study performed in-house at TDWR indicates substantial increases in regional crop revenue could result from a lO-percent increase in mean monthly precipitation in the late winter and summer months. Also, there are significant regional effects on output, income, and employ- ment associated with the spending of increased crop production income. For rangelands, rainfall during spring months is very important to the condition of the range during the balance of the year. Condi- tions of the previous year have significant impacts on current range conditions, since carryover of healthy plants is important in establishing a good stand in following years. A lO-percent increase in rainfall in April i./Ould have the largest effect on total income to area 1 ivestock producers. It is estimated that an annual lO-percent increase in April to October rainfall would reduce ground-water II 1-14