Tuesday, 14 January 2020: 9:45 AM
105 (Boston Convention and Exhibition Center)
In weather modification research using cloud seeding techniques, it is important not only to accurately evaluate the ice nucleation capability of seeding aerosols, but also to understand the ice nucleation capability of atmospheric aerosols. In the case of glaciogenic seeding, the optimum delivery rate (delivery amount) of seeding aerosols depends on ice nuclei concentrations in the atmosphere (ice crystal concentrations in clouds), and in the case of hygroscopic seeding of mixed-phase convective clouds aiming at dynamic seeding effect, seeding effect also depends on ice nuclei concentrations in the atmosphere.
Looking back just after World War II, ice nucleation research was closely related to weather modification research. Researches were conducted to characterize the ice nucleation capability of AgI aerosols and others, which were known as glaciogenic seeding materials, and also to discover new materials effective for glaciogenic seeding. Also at Japan’s Meteorological Research Institute and some universities, in the 1950s and 1960s, researches on weather modification and on ice nucleation capability of seeding and atmospheric aerosols were actively conducted. However, precipitation enhancement research had fallen due to the shift from hydropower to thermal power generation, and ice nucleation research had fallen due to a huge uncertainty in ice nuclei measurements.
After the hiatus of about 30 years, the Meteorological Research Institute resumed weather modification research aimed at mitigating snow damage and securing water resources from the 1990s, and ice nucleation research in terms of aerosol effects on clouds and precipitation from the 2000s.
At the presentation, we will introduce the studies on ice nucleation capability of seeding and atmospheric aerosols using ground-based ice nucleus counter, airborne ice nucleus counter, and cloud simulation chamber, which have been conducted as part of weather modification researches for the past two decades.
Looking back just after World War II, ice nucleation research was closely related to weather modification research. Researches were conducted to characterize the ice nucleation capability of AgI aerosols and others, which were known as glaciogenic seeding materials, and also to discover new materials effective for glaciogenic seeding. Also at Japan’s Meteorological Research Institute and some universities, in the 1950s and 1960s, researches on weather modification and on ice nucleation capability of seeding and atmospheric aerosols were actively conducted. However, precipitation enhancement research had fallen due to the shift from hydropower to thermal power generation, and ice nucleation research had fallen due to a huge uncertainty in ice nuclei measurements.
After the hiatus of about 30 years, the Meteorological Research Institute resumed weather modification research aimed at mitigating snow damage and securing water resources from the 1990s, and ice nucleation research in terms of aerosol effects on clouds and precipitation from the 2000s.
At the presentation, we will introduce the studies on ice nucleation capability of seeding and atmospheric aerosols using ground-based ice nucleus counter, airborne ice nucleus counter, and cloud simulation chamber, which have been conducted as part of weather modification researches for the past two decades.
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner