Southeast Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Project (CSRP)

Project Objectives

The overall objective is to provide an assessment of the potential for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall in Southeast Queensland.  The scientific objectives for Phase 1 are to make preliminary assessments of:

1. The climatological characteristics of precipitation and, in particular, the frequency of clouds potentially suitable for seeding.
2. The approaches necessary to obtain robust estimates of precipitation amount and retrieve microphysical properties of the clouds.
3. The effect of cloud seeding on storm microphysics and dynamics. This includes precipitation particle types, number and size of precipitation particles, and horizontal and vertical air motions.
4. Evidence from cloud seeding of increased secondary convective storm initiation.
5. Evidence of precipitation enhancement from cloud seeding.

Operational Objectives

The operational objectives of Phase I (and potentially Phase II) of the Cloud Seeding Research Program in Southeast Queensland are to:

• Understand the natural characteristics of SE Queensland clouds and their environment.
• Make quantitative measurements of radar-derived storm-based rainfall for assessing potential effects from hygroscopic and glaciogenic seeding.
• If an effect is found, understand the time history of such effect and the probable cause.
• Test the concepts of the South African and Mexican hygroscopic seeding experimental approach in Southeast Queensland.
• Collect physical measurements in natural and seeded clouds and provide substantiation for the physical hypothesis.
• Conduct preliminary theoretical studies on the logistics and feasibility to extend storm-scale effects to an area wide effect.