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<br />OOlllo8 <br /> <br />is called "seedability." A recent definition of static seedability for <br />increasing precipitation has been provided by the World Meteorological <br />Organization. It states: <br /> <br />"Clouds are considered to be 'statically seedable' for <br />increasing precipitation if: (a) the collision-coalescence <br />process between cloud drops is inefficient, and (b) the rate <br />ot formation of supercooled condensate is comparable to or <br />exceeds the rate of depletion of supercooled water, and <br />(c) there is sufficient time to grow additional precipitation <br />particles produced by seeding, such that they can reach the <br />ground." <br /> <br />Numerous studies have considered the applicability of the general <br />hypothesis stated above; that is, to distinguish among all orographic <br />clouds those that possess seedability and those that do not. A syn- <br />thesis of various studies that classified storm types in Colorado <br />indicated that while different investigators used different approaches, <br />storms can be classified into two general types: (1) large synoptic <br />storms that produce widespread precipitation over large areas covering <br />mountains and valleys alike. These storms usually persist for several <br />days as they traverse the region depositing relatively large amounts of <br />snow in their wake. Orographic components are superimposed upon the <br />general precipitation pattern as the storms cross the mountain bar- <br />riers; and (2) locally produced orographic cloud systems with more <br />local, mountain-induced precipitation. These are associated with high <br />level disturbances and mesoscale instabilities. Snowfall is generally <br />lighter and concentrated at higher elevations during the passage of <br />local orographic cloud systems. <br /> <br />Both storm types can and do occur over all parts of the Colorado River <br />Basin. However, the northern and southern regions are generally <br />influenced by meteorological regimes which frequently are unlinked. A <br />higher frequency of small precipitation events associated with local <br />orographic cloud systems occurs in the northern part of the Colorado <br />River Basin and greater accumulations of daily precipitation associated <br />with large synoptic storms occur more frequently in the southern part. <br /> <br />Large synoptic storms are very complex and have much variety and <br />gradation. Typically a large low-pressure system passing over Colorado <br />begins with a stable cloud forming in southwesterly flow over the <br />mountain barrier. Later it develops into a general storm transitioning <br />from a neutral stage to an unstable stage with embedded convection. <br />Finally the storm ends with northwesterly flow, again producing light <br />mountain-induced precipitation as the clouds begin to dissipate. Each <br />stage in the storm usually lasts 6 to 9 hours. The modification <br />potential in these storms is greatest during the unstable stage which <br />contains the greatest concentrations of liquid water and ice particle <br />concentrations are relatively low in the high liquid water content <br />regions associated with the embedded convection. Further, an upwind <br />horizontal convergence zone is generally present during this stage <br /> <br />27 <br /> <br />~ <br />