The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program

Sarah A. Tessendorf; Roelof T. Bruintjes; Michael Dixon; Matthew Pocernich; Kyoko Ikeda; Duncan Axisa; Eric Nelson; Peter T. May; Harald Richter; Stuart Piketh; Roelof P. Burger; Louise Wilson; Courtney Weeks; Steven T. Siems; Michael Manton; Roger C. Stone; Acacia Pepler; Don R. Collins; V. N. Bringi; M. Thurai; Lynne Turner; David McRae; James W. Wilson; Charles A. Knight; Rita D. Roberts; Justin R. Peter; Scott Collis; Peter R. Buseck; Evelyn Freney

doi:10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1

The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program

Sarah A. Tessendorf, Roelof T. Bruintjes, Michael Dixon, Matthew Pocernich, Kyoko Ikeda, Duncan Axisa, Eric Nelson, Peter T. May, Harald Richter, Stuart Piketh, Roelof P. Burger, Louise Wilson, Courtney Weeks, Steven T. Siems, Michael Manton, Roger C. Stone, Acacia Pepler, Don R. Collins, V. N. Bringi, M. ThuraiLynne Turner, David McRae, James W. Wilson, Charles A. Knight, Rita D. Roberts, Justin R. Peter, Scott Collis, Peter R. Buseck, Evelyn Freney

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

As a response to extreme water shortages in southeast Queensland, Australia, brought about by reduced rainfall and increasing population, the Queensland government decided to explore the potential for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall. The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program (QCSRP) was conducted in the southeast Queensland region near Brisbane during the 2008/09 wet seasons. In addition to conducting an initial exploratory, randomized (statistical) cloud seeding study, multiparameter radar measurements and in situ aircraft microphysical data were collected. This comprehensive set of observational platforms was designed to improve the physical understanding of the effects of both ambient aerosols and seeding material on precipitation formation in southeast Queensland clouds. This focus on gaining physical understanding, along with the unique combination of modern observational platforms utilized in the program, set it apart from previous cloud seeding research programs. The overarching goals of the QCSRP were to 1) determine the characteristics of local cloud systems (i.e., weather and climate), 2) document the properties of atmospheric aerosol and their microphysical effects on precipitation formation, and 3) assess the impact of cloud seeding on cloud microphysical and dynamical processes to enhance rainfall. During the course of the program, it became clear that there is great variability in the natural cloud systems in the southeast Queensland region, and understanding that variability would be necessary before any conclusions could be made regarding the impact of cloud seeding. This article presents research highlights and progress toward achieving the goals of the program, along with the challenges associated with conducting cloud seeding research experiments.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	75-90
Number of pages	16
Journal	Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Volume	93
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1
Publication status	Published - 2012

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Tessendorf, S. A., Bruintjes, R. T., Dixon, M., Pocernich, M., Ikeda, K., Axisa, D., Nelson, E., May, P. T., Richter, H., Piketh, S., Burger, R. P., Wilson, L., Weeks, C., Siems, S. T., Manton, M., Stone, R. C., Pepler, A., Collins, D. R., Bringi, V. N., ... Freney, E. (2012). The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93(1), 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1

@article{5efc5d244b3d414b961fe4e1cf0fc9ec,

title = "The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program",

abstract = "As a response to extreme water shortages in southeast Queensland, Australia, brought about by reduced rainfall and increasing population, the Queensland government decided to explore the potential for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall. The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program (QCSRP) was conducted in the southeast Queensland region near Brisbane during the 2008/09 wet seasons. In addition to conducting an initial exploratory, randomized (statistical) cloud seeding study, multiparameter radar measurements and in situ aircraft microphysical data were collected. This comprehensive set of observational platforms was designed to improve the physical understanding of the effects of both ambient aerosols and seeding material on precipitation formation in southeast Queensland clouds. This focus on gaining physical understanding, along with the unique combination of modern observational platforms utilized in the program, set it apart from previous cloud seeding research programs. The overarching goals of the QCSRP were to 1) determine the characteristics of local cloud systems (i.e., weather and climate), 2) document the properties of atmospheric aerosol and their microphysical effects on precipitation formation, and 3) assess the impact of cloud seeding on cloud microphysical and dynamical processes to enhance rainfall. During the course of the program, it became clear that there is great variability in the natural cloud systems in the southeast Queensland region, and understanding that variability would be necessary before any conclusions could be made regarding the impact of cloud seeding. This article presents research highlights and progress toward achieving the goals of the program, along with the challenges associated with conducting cloud seeding research experiments.",

author = "Tessendorf, {Sarah A.} and Bruintjes, {Roelof T.} and Michael Dixon and Matthew Pocernich and Kyoko Ikeda and Duncan Axisa and Eric Nelson and May, {Peter T.} and Harald Richter and Stuart Piketh and Burger, {Roelof P.} and Louise Wilson and Courtney Weeks and Siems, {Steven T.} and Michael Manton and Stone, {Roger C.} and Acacia Pepler and Collins, {Don R.} and Bringi, {V. N.} and M. Thurai and Lynne Turner and David McRae and Wilson, {James W.} and Knight, {Charles A.} and Roberts, {Rita D.} and Peter, {Justin R.} and Scott Collis and Buseck, {Peter R.} and Evelyn Freney",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1",

language = "English",

volume = "93",

pages = "75--90",

journal = "Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society",

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publisher = "American Meteorological Society",

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Tessendorf, SA, Bruintjes, RT, Dixon, M, Pocernich, M, Ikeda, K, Axisa, D, Nelson, E, May, PT, Richter, H, Piketh, S, Burger, RP, Wilson, L, Weeks, C, Siems, ST, Manton, M, Stone, RC, Pepler, A, Collins, DR, Bringi, VN, Thurai, M, Turner, L, McRae, D, Wilson, JW, Knight, CA, Roberts, RD, Peter, JR, Collis, S, Buseck, PR & Freney, E 2012, 'The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program', Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 93, no. 1, pp. 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program

AU - Tessendorf, Sarah A.

AU - Bruintjes, Roelof T.

AU - Dixon, Michael

AU - Pocernich, Matthew

AU - Ikeda, Kyoko

AU - Axisa, Duncan

AU - Nelson, Eric

AU - May, Peter T.

AU - Richter, Harald

AU - Piketh, Stuart

AU - Burger, Roelof P.

AU - Wilson, Louise

AU - Weeks, Courtney

AU - Siems, Steven T.

AU - Manton, Michael

AU - Stone, Roger C.

AU - Pepler, Acacia

AU - Collins, Don R.

AU - Bringi, V. N.

AU - Thurai, M.

AU - Turner, Lynne

AU - McRae, David

AU - Wilson, James W.

AU - Knight, Charles A.

AU - Roberts, Rita D.

AU - Peter, Justin R.

AU - Collis, Scott

AU - Buseck, Peter R.

AU - Freney, Evelyn

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - As a response to extreme water shortages in southeast Queensland, Australia, brought about by reduced rainfall and increasing population, the Queensland government decided to explore the potential for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall. The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program (QCSRP) was conducted in the southeast Queensland region near Brisbane during the 2008/09 wet seasons. In addition to conducting an initial exploratory, randomized (statistical) cloud seeding study, multiparameter radar measurements and in situ aircraft microphysical data were collected. This comprehensive set of observational platforms was designed to improve the physical understanding of the effects of both ambient aerosols and seeding material on precipitation formation in southeast Queensland clouds. This focus on gaining physical understanding, along with the unique combination of modern observational platforms utilized in the program, set it apart from previous cloud seeding research programs. The overarching goals of the QCSRP were to 1) determine the characteristics of local cloud systems (i.e., weather and climate), 2) document the properties of atmospheric aerosol and their microphysical effects on precipitation formation, and 3) assess the impact of cloud seeding on cloud microphysical and dynamical processes to enhance rainfall. During the course of the program, it became clear that there is great variability in the natural cloud systems in the southeast Queensland region, and understanding that variability would be necessary before any conclusions could be made regarding the impact of cloud seeding. This article presents research highlights and progress toward achieving the goals of the program, along with the challenges associated with conducting cloud seeding research experiments.

AB - As a response to extreme water shortages in southeast Queensland, Australia, brought about by reduced rainfall and increasing population, the Queensland government decided to explore the potential for cloud seeding to enhance rainfall. The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program (QCSRP) was conducted in the southeast Queensland region near Brisbane during the 2008/09 wet seasons. In addition to conducting an initial exploratory, randomized (statistical) cloud seeding study, multiparameter radar measurements and in situ aircraft microphysical data were collected. This comprehensive set of observational platforms was designed to improve the physical understanding of the effects of both ambient aerosols and seeding material on precipitation formation in southeast Queensland clouds. This focus on gaining physical understanding, along with the unique combination of modern observational platforms utilized in the program, set it apart from previous cloud seeding research programs. The overarching goals of the QCSRP were to 1) determine the characteristics of local cloud systems (i.e., weather and climate), 2) document the properties of atmospheric aerosol and their microphysical effects on precipitation formation, and 3) assess the impact of cloud seeding on cloud microphysical and dynamical processes to enhance rainfall. During the course of the program, it became clear that there is great variability in the natural cloud systems in the southeast Queensland region, and understanding that variability would be necessary before any conclusions could be made regarding the impact of cloud seeding. This article presents research highlights and progress toward achieving the goals of the program, along with the challenges associated with conducting cloud seeding research experiments.

U2 - 10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1

DO - 10.1175/Bams-d-11-00060.1

M3 - Article

SN - 0003-0007

VL - 93

SP - 75

EP - 90

JO - Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

JF - Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

IS - 1

ER -

The Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program

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