Cloud Seeding over the Snowy Mountains

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Griselda Gladys Shepherd
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1 Cloud Seeding over the Snowy Mountains Presentation to Alpine Resorts Sustainability Forum 1 May 2009

2 Topics covered by this presentation History of Cloud Seeding over the Snowy Mountains How Cloud Seeding Works Project Overview Cloud Seeding Procedures Progress Report

3 Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Research Over 50 years of cloud seeding research worldwide Currently more than 60 operational projects around the world A long history of projects investigating cloud seeding over the Snowy Mountains First experiment in the 1950s Research & studies in the 1980s and 1990s Current project began in 2004

history of projects investigating cloud seeding over the Snowy Mountains First

4 How it works

5 Current Cloud Seeding Project The Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Research Project ~2150 km 2 target area Objectives are to determine the: Technical Economic Environmental feasibility of enhancing snowfall over the Snowy Mountains

area Objectives are to determine the: Technical Economic

6 Project evaluation Scientifically designed experiment & stringent operating criteria High resolution meteorological measurement network Evaluation Plan: Specifies scientifically rigorous procedures for assessing efficacy Uses both statistical methods and snow chemistry Prepared by Monash Uni & two independent scientific reviews Includes assessment of precipitation over entire study area Evaluations will be undertaken in 2010 and 2015

assessing efficacy Uses both statistical methods and snow chemistry Prepared by Monash Uni & two independent

7 Environmental Monitoring & Reporting Extensive environmental monitoring and analysis undertaken to confirm that there are no adverse impacts from: Infrastructure Use of cloud seeding agents Additional snow Undertaken throughout the study area Reported to government annually All results to date show that the project has not had any adverse environmental effects

seeding agents Additional snow Undertaken throughout the study area Reported to government

8 Legislative Conditions Legislative conditions include: Operations only when precipitation to fall as snow over the primary target area Environmental effects must be monitored Operations must be ground based Specified seeding material that must be used No generators in the Jagungal Wilderness Area

Environmental effects must be monitored Operations must be ground based

9 Khancoban Balloon Launch Site

10 Typical Ground Generator Pair

11 Elevated Generator Pair

12 Precipitation instrumentation: Pluviometer

13 Precipitation instrumentation: Tipping bucket

14 Blue Calf Remote Sensing Facility

15 Cooma Clean Room Facility

16 Cloud Seeding Procedure Forecasting to identify potential opportunities Nowcasting using near real time remote sensing and upper air sounding data Cloud seeding experiments commence and continue while seeding criteria satisfied Snow sampling activities commence as soon as possible following the cessation of a cloud seeding campaign

experiments commence and continue while seeding criteria satisfied Snow sampling

17 Stringent Operating Criteria High Reservoir Storage and Snowpack below threshold Snowpack Accumulation below threshold Severe Weather Threat absent Freezing Level must not be above 1600m ASL Confirmation of snow from cameras and external parties when freezing level between 1550 and 1600m Cloud top temperature 7 C or colder Cloud depth 400m above the 5 C level Excess supercooled liquid water must be available Model shows snow will fall in the target area The relevant generators are available for operation The forecaster expects the event to last for at least 3 hours

1600m Cloud top temperature 7 C or colder Cloud depth 400m above the 5 C level Excess supercooled liquid water must be available Model shows

18 Cloud Seeding Procedure Criteria

19 Cloud Seeding Procedure Criteria

20 Cloud Seeding Procedure Criteria

21 Cloud Seeding Procedure Criteria

22 Procedure Snow Sample Collection

23 Cloud Seeding Operations Start date 18 June June 05 7 May May May 08 End date 13 Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept 08 Campaigns Experimental units Hours of operation NA* * * 2004 was the start-up year, so no randomised experiments occurred. Suitable conditions may have also existed before 18 June 2004, however, the project was still being commissioned at that stage.

24 Cloud Seeding Progress Report Preliminary results are particularly encouraging Annual assessment of snow chemistry has shown strong seeding signatures & effective targeting of the study area Final evaluation at conclusion of project to be undertaken with collaboration of research partners (Monash Uni) Research outcomes progressively published and publicly available: in peer reviewed scientific literature presented at conferences

25 Benefits of additional snow Many benefits locally and nationally: Regional tourism single largest industry in region all NSW ski resorts in target area Snow dependant wildlife Additional water in Scheme storages Increased renewable energy generation Agricultural sector Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments

26 Thank You

Expert Panel Assessment. Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Trial (SPET) Executive Summary

Expert Panel Assessment. Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Trial (SPET) Executive Summary Expert Panel Assessment Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Trial (SPET) Executive Summary In Summary Snowy Hydro Ltd proposes to undertake a six year cloud seeding trial in the Snowy Mountains region of New