Preliminary observations of cloud and precipitation characteristics in the Brisbane, Australia region

A cloud seeding feasibility study took place in the area of Brisbane, Australia between November 2007 and March 2008. This project employed two Doppler radars, including one with dual-polarization capabilities, along with satellite measurements of clouds and precipitation, as well as instrumented aircraft for in situ aerosol and cloud physics measurements. The goals of this study range from assessing the climatological characteristics of precipitation in the region, in particular the frequency of clouds suitable for seeding, to determining the effect of cloud seeding on storm microphysics and dynamics.

This presentation will provide preliminary observations of the aerosol and cloud microstructures characteristic of clouds observed during the field program, as well as the characteristic storm dynamics and environmental conditions responsible for the bulk of the rainfall in the region.