https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2018EA000424

Advances in the Evaluation of Cloud Seeding: Statistical Evidence for the Enhancement of Precipitation

Lightning activity during convective cell mergers in a squall line and corresponding dynamical and thermodynamical characteristics

The results of simultaneous radar, radiometric, and lightning location measurements are analyzed to reveal interrelations between the characteristics of electric discharges and the parameters of a cumulonimbus cloud developing near Saint Petersburg. The dependences of the cloud electric activity on the radar characteristics as well as on the parameters derived from the Meteosat SEVIRI radiometer measurements are considered. It is found that lightning frequency highly correlates with the volume of supercooled cloud regions with high values of reflectivity. An increase in the lightning frequency occurs about 20 minutes after the moment when supercooled cloud volumes with reflectivity above 35–55 dBZ reach the maximum values. The maximum precipitation flux precedes the maximum lightning frequency.

Relationships between the Structure of Convective Clouds and Lightning Frequency Derived from Radiophysical Measurements

Cumulus clouds modify their immediate surroundings by detraining their warm, humid updrafts. When clouds are closely spaced, this conditioning of the local environment may alter the propert...

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Cloud spacing effects upon entrainment and rainfall along a convective line

The results are presented of complex investigation of clouds in India which were seeded with a glaciogenic reagent from the aircraft. The seeding effect was assessed by the comparison of radar characteristics of the seeded clouds with the characteristics of clouds within the radar field of view. The maximum reflectivity increase in the seeded clouds in comparison with clouds in the natural cycle, an increase in the precipitation flux and specific mass of precipitated hail are observed. The merging of seeded clouds was observed during the study. It is shown that this process affects cloud characteristics resulting in the significant (by several times) increase in the precipitation flux. The measurements of electric discharges registered by the lightning detection network demonstrated that there were no lightning strikes in the seeded clouds, although the calculations indicated an increase in the electric activity of the clouds.

Investigation of Cu cong Seeding Effect during Rainfall Augmentation in India

Presented are the results of radar investigations of cloud merger during their natural cycle of development and after the seeding. The observations were carried out in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2008. It is revealed that the merging was observed under conditions of very unstable atmosphere, when the convective available potential energy exceeded 3000 J/kg. The cloud merger impacts significantly their development. The most considerable changes due to the cloud merging were observed for the cloud mass and precipitation flow increased as a result of this process by two or three times. It is discovered that the impact of the merger of clouds on their characteristics exceeds significantly the effect of seeding carried out for the feeder clouds.

Radar investigations of cloud merger

Considered is a case of the cumulonimbus cloud development in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia with a very high precipitation intensity. The height of the cloud top amounted to 14 km and the radar reflectivity, to 60 dBZ. Carried out is the comparison of remote methods of measuring the intensity of precipitation from the cloud under study: the radar (using the relationship between the reflectivity and precipitation intensity) and satellite IR-radiometric (based on the results of sounding with the SEVERI radiometer installed at the Meteosat-8 satellite) methods. A split-window technique was used for detecting the position of the cloud top from the radiometric observations. The analysis enabled to select the best relationships for estimating the precipitation intensity from the data of radar and satellite measurements. The computations based on these relationships correspond most closely to the ground-based measurements with the precipitation gage.

High-Intensity Precipitation Measurement Using Remote Methods

Analyzed is the development of three cumulonimbus clouds seeded with the crystallizing reagent in Saudi Arabia. Continuous satellite and radar observations of the clouds were carried out during the five-hour period. Obtained are the data on the dynamics of cumulonimbus clouds and their anvils. The vertical development of cumulonimbus clouds and the increase in the radar reflectivity and amount of precipitation were observed after the seeding. The significant increase in the precipitation was observed in all three cases. The results obtained in the present analysis are in agreement with theoretical concepts of the seeding effects on dynamic properties of clouds and precipitation characteristics. They demonstrate a big potential of seeding for increasing the precipitation falling from cumulonimbus clouds.

A. S. Ghulam

Papers

Radar investigations of cloud merger

High-Intensity Precipitation Measurement Using Remote Methods

Investigation of high-depth cumulonimbus clouds characteristics after seeding to increase precipitation