Watershed hydrometeorological data required for weather modification
Title | Watershed hydrometeorological data required for weather modification |
Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
Year of Conference | 1972 |
Authors | Elliott, R. D., and Hannaford J. F. |
Conference Name | 40th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Series Title | Proceedings of the 40th Annual Western Snow Conference |
Date Published | April 1972 |
Publisher | Western Snow Conference |
Conference Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
Keywords | Cloud seeding, Water supply forecasting, Weather modification evaluation |
Abstract | The hydrometeorological data in five western mountain watersheds were reviewed and deficiencies in existing data required for planning of large scale research weather modification projects were noted. Ideally the additional data needed for each major watershed includes a base station for project control, several climate stations to record areal coverage of precipitation and standard meteorological parameters and one mountain observatory unit for the observation of special meteorological parameters and snow quality data. Studies of existing data reveals little or no tendency for snowpack to level off or to decrease at higher elevations. Estimates of ten percent increase in precipitation during the October through April seeding periods could increase the average annual runoff by 2.5 million acre feet within the five large watersheds and an additional 1 million acre feet around the periphery of these watersheds. Extending the seeding program into May and June could increase the runoff from the five study basins by 440,000 acre feet, but caution is needed in seeding during this period because of undesirable flood potentials. |
URL | sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1972Elliott.pdf |