Extended Abstract (184K)P1.8
A Model Based Feasibility Study of Glacionic Seeding during a Winter Orographic Precipitation Event in Wyoming
Tara Jensen, NCAR, Boulder, CO; and R. Bruintjes, D. Breed, W. D. Hall, B. Boe, and K. Ross
The technique of glacionic seeding of orographic clouds has been used for decades to increase the snowpack of a region, which in turn increases the run-off into a given watershed. Mesoscale models have recently been used for assisting in the placement of ground based generators and the evaluation for glacionic seeding experiments. This paper will examine the results of the modeling portion of a feasibility study to develop plans for a potentialcost-effective and environmentally-safe cloud seeding operation in two Wyoming locations, the Wind River and Medicine Bow mountain ranges. The standard version of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) was used to investigate the dispersion of seeding material during the 5-6 February 2004 winter orographic precipitation event. Of particular interest is the targeting and the amount of seeding material that reaches the supercooled liquid water regions of the clouds to determine optimal locations for seeding generators in a potential future experiment. Additionally, the results from using the standard WRF Level-6 cloud microphysics scheme will be compared with a prototype cloud microphysics scheme that will be implemented in WRF within the year and is based on the Reisner cloud microphysics scheme.
Poster Session 1, Poster Session
Monday, 10 January 2005, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM
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