Advances in Weather Modification from 1997 to 2007 in China

Rapid and significant advances in issues relevant to weather modification have been made in the last decade in China due to high water resource stresses and severe weather hazards induced by climate change. This paper reported some progress in aspects of theoretical modeling, field experiment and cloud-seeding tools, as well as research projects regarding weather modification during the ten years from 1997 to 2007. More advanced theoretical models such as cloud models with bin-microphysics and glaciogenic and hygroscopic seeding processes, and mesoscale cloud-resolving models with AgI-seeding processes have been developed to study seeding-induced changes of cloud structure and precipitation as well as to understand critical issues in association with weather modification. More advanced cloud-seeding tools such as mobile ground-based launching system of AgI-rockets and aircraft-based AgI-flares have been developed and used in operation. Several important projects aimed at exploring weather modification techniques and their applications have been conducted during this period.

Advances in Cloud Physics and Weather Modification in China

The capabilities of cloud-resolving numerical models, observational instruments and cloud seeding have improved greatly over recent years in China. The subject of this review focuses on the main progresses made in China in the areas of cloud modeling, field observations, aerosol–cloud interactions, the effects of urbanization on cloud and precipitation, and weather modification.Well-equipped aircraft and ground-based advanced Doppler and polarized radars have been rapidly applied in cloudseeding operations. The combined use of modern techniques such as the Global Positioning System, remote sensing, and Geographical Information Systems has greatly decreased the blindness and uncertainties in weather-modification activities.Weather-modification models based on state-of-the-art cloud-resolving models are operationally run at the National Weather Modification Centre in China for guiding weather-modification programs.Despite important progress having been made, many critical issues or challenges remain to be solved, or require stronger scientific evidence and support, such as the chain of physical events involved in the effects induced by cloud seeding. Current important progresses in measurements and seeding techniques provide the opportunity and possibility to reduce these deficiencies. Long-term scientific projects aimed at reducing these key uncertainties are extremely urgent and important for weather-modification activities in China.

The Integrated Development of Weapon Technology and Weather Modification Technology

The advanced weather modification equipment was introduced,which was produced by China North Industries Corp（ NORINCO）. The advice of ordnance technology and weather modification technology integrated development was presented from aspects of system planning,overall design,market development and field extension. The feasibility and necessity of civil-military integrated development that the weapon technology could promote the development of civil product,i. e.,weather modification products,and as a result the civil technology＇s innovation could also accelerate the ordnance development was discussed.

Study on an Audio and Video Network Monitoring System for Weather Modification Operation

An audio and video network monitoring system for weather modification operation transmitting information by 3G, ADSL and Internet has been developed and applied in weather modification operation of Tai＇an City. The all-in-one machine of 3G audio and video network highly integrates all front-end devices used for audio and video collection, communication, power supply and information storage, and has advantages of wireless video transmission, clear two-way voice intercom with the command center, waterproof and dustproof function, simple operation, good portability, and long working hours. Compression code of the system is transmitted by dynamic bandwidth, and compression rate varies from 32 kbps to 4 Mbps under different network conditions. This system has forwarding mode, that is, monitoring information from each front-end monitoring point is trans- mitted to the server of the command center by 3G/ADSL, and the server codes＇and decodes again, then beck-end users call images from the serv- er, which can address 3G network stoppage caused by many users calling front-end video at the same time. In addition, the system has been ap- plied in surface weather modification operation of Tai＇an City, and has made a great contribution to transmitting operation orders in real time, monitoring, standardizing and recording operating process, and improving operating safety.

Current Situation and Countermeasures of Weather Modification Ground Operation in Heilongjiang Province

Heilongjiang Province is the granary of China,which plays a key role in ensuring the national food security.The total grain output of Heilongjiang Province has ranked first in China for 12 consecutive years.In the past four years,it has been stable at more than 75 billion kg,a record high.One bowl of rice in every nine bowls in China comes from Heilongjiang.The work of weather modification and disaster prevention and reduction is an important measure to ensure the development of agricultural production,and is the key of meteorological services for agriculture.Based on the actual work of artificial weather modification in Heilongjiang Province,this paper analyzes the current situation of ground operation in Heilongjiang Province,studies and judges the safety production,and puts forward reasonable countermeasures.The purpose is to improve the ground operation ability of artificial weather modification and provide safe and scientific services for agricultural production.

Application of Cloud Precipitation Analysis System in Weather Modification in Fuxin

Based on Cloud Precipitation Analysis System(CPAS),the potential for weather modification during the four types of typical precipitation processes in Fuxin area in 2019 was analyzed,and the model forecast products before weather modification operation and the surface rainfall were compared.

Discussion on the Safety Problem of Weather Modification

In order to insure the safety and efficiency of the implement of weather modification, accidents in weather modification in China in recent years were analyzed preliminarily. It was found that the operators failed to follow policies in transportation and management, choice of operation field, maintenance and management of business. Besides, the malfunction of equipment is the direct reason of safety accidents. To implement each policy is the basic guarantee of weather modification safety.

Key Issues in Developing Numerical Models for Artificial Weather Modification

The scientific foundation of artificial weather modification is rneso- and small-scale dynamics and cloud-precipitation microphysics. Artificial weather modification requires the realistic coupling of weather patterns, dynamical pro- cesses, and microphysical processes. Now that numerical models with weather dynamical characteristics have been widely applied to artificial weather modification, several key points that should not be neglected when developing numerical models for artificial weather modification are proposed in this paper, including the dynamical equations, model resolution, cloud-precipitation microphysical processes, numerical computation method, and initial and boundary conditions. Based on several examples, approaches are offered to deal with the problems that exist in these areas.

Operational Plan,Effect Verification,and Key Technical Settings for a Stadium-Scale Artificial Rain Reduction Experiment

To explore the key technologies of artificial weather modification for specific targets(e.g.,a stadium)and improve the efficiency of artificial rainfall modification for major events,this study conducts an artificial rainfall reduction experiment for the closing ceremony of Nanjing Youth Olympic Games on 28 August 2014.Satellite retrievals,radar observations,sounding data,and other sources of information as well as Cloud and Precipitation Accurate Analysis System(CPAS)are used in this study.The main conclusions are as follows.(1)On 28 August 2014,a large-scale cumulus cloud system with mixed-phase stratocumulus and stratus precipitation was observed.This system was influenced by the weak shear of a low-level trough and the precipitation was dominated by cold clouds with dry layers between clouds.Thereby,we adopted the crystal-priming over-catalytic hypothesis and conducted a rocket-catalytic rain abatement operation at a certain distance(100–25 km)from the stadium.Rocket shootings of different intensities were implemented for two echoes that affected the stadium successively(two rounds of 15 rocket shootings within15 min for an isolated weak echo IA;multiple rounds of 156 rocket shootings within 80 min for a strong echo IB).Amazingly,after the shootings with the catalysis in the air,reflectivity of the two echoes was reduced at all altitudes with the most significant reduction at the 2-km altitude,and the time needed for the obvious reduction was 40 min.The most obvious reduction of the two echoes then maintained for 60 and 53 min,respectively,and the operation time needed for the echo zone to recover after the stop of rocket shooting was 108 min for echo IA and 90 min for echo IB.The two echoes moving across the stadium during the time period of the closing ceremony(2000–2130 local time)were at their minimal strengths,with almost no echo over the target stadium.This demonstrates that the rocket shooting strategy of over-crystallization catalysis is effective,and the shooting site,time,and dose are reasonable.The following technical parameters were used during this experiment.At about 80–25 km away from the target stadium in the west,the rocket shooting lasted for 15–80 min and the doses were not less than 1 shot min~(-1)(1 shot min~(-1)for echo IA,2.25 shots min~(-1)for echo IB).The attenuation rate was 0.21 dBZ min~(-1)for the average 15 dBZ of echo IA.For the average 25 dBZ of echo IB,the attenuation rate was 0.27 dBZ min~(-1).The above technical settings helped achieve the goal of reducing rain over the stadium to almost zero for nearly 1-h period during the critical time of the event.

Comparative experiments and effectiveness evaluation on vertical blowing fans(VBF)for frost protection

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of vertical blowing fans(VBF)for frost protection in a vineyard on a steep slope near Napa Valley in Northern California,USA,and a tea plantation located on undulating terrain in Zhenjiang,China.Minimum temperature comparisons from within the grape vineyard on nights with and without VBF operation with control station minimum temperatures exhibited no temperature benefit.Profile measurements from the test in China indicated that there was an increase in temperature when the VBF was first started,but that benefit was lost over time.No clear benefit from using the VBF was observed.Observation of frost deposition and thermal imagery also showed no benefit except for within about 5 m of the VBF.Based on this work,the effectiveness of the VBF for frost protection was not validated.

An Example of Canal Formation in a Thick Cloud Induced by Massive Seeding Using Liquid Carbon Dioxide

The purpose of this experiment is to show that massive cloud seeding is effective in mitigating the damage caused by heavy snowfall. In order to show its effect, we attempted to form a canal in a thick convective cloud by massive seeding, and left the parts that were not influenced by the seeding as a reference to show that the canal was formed by the massive seeding only. The seeding was carried out by using an aircraft. The seeding rate and air speed of the aircraft were 35 g s-1 and 115 m s 1, respectively. The flight course for seeding was selected to be parallel to the wind direction to ensure that the dispersed liquid carbon dioxide did not influence both sides of the course. The results show that a part of the radar echo observed from onboard beneath the seeding track was weakened and divided the radar echo into two parts 20 minutes after the cloud top and the bottom were seeded, and distribution of rainfall rate on the ground from the target cloud was confirmed to be divided into two parts 24 minutes after the seeding. The target cloud was torn along the seeding track, and we could see the sea surface through the break in the cloud. Canal formation occurred in the cloud along the seeding track. Clouds and snowfall were left on both sides of the canal. The results show that supercooled liquid cloud particles along the seeding track evaporated to form larger precipitable particles which grew and fell rapidly.

Diagnostic Quantification of the Cloud Water Resource in China during 2000–2019

By using the diagnostic quantification method for cloud water resource(CWR),the three-dimensional(3D)cloud fields of 1°×1°resolution during 2000-2019 in China are firstly obtained based on the NCEP reanalysis data and related satellite data.Then,combined with the Global Precipitation Climatology Project(GPCP)products,a 1°×1°gridded CWR dataset of China in recent 20 years is established.On this basis,the monthly and annual CWR and related variables in China and its six weather modification operation sub-regions are obtained,and the CWR characteristics in different regions are analyzed finally.The results show that in the past 20 years,the annual total amount of atmospheric hydrometeors(GM_(h))and water vapor(GM_(v))in the Chinese mainland are about 838.1 and 3835.9 mm,respectively.After deducting the annual mean precipitation of China(P_(s),661.7 mm),the annual CWR is about 176.4 mm.Among the six sub-regions,the southeast region has the largest amount of cloud condensation(C_(vh))and precipitation,leading to the largest GM_(h) and CWR there.In contrast,the annual P_(s),GM_(h),and CWR are all the least in the northwest region.Furthermore,the monthly and interannual variation trends of P_(s),C_(vh),and GM_(h) in different regions are identical,and the evolution characteristics of CWR are also consistent with the hydrometeor inflow(Q_(hi)).For the north,northwest,and northeast regions,in spring and autumn the precipitation efficiency of hydrometeors(PEh)is not high(20%-60%),the renewal time of hydrometeors(RT_(h))is relatively long(5-25 h),and GM_(h) is relatively high.Therefore,there is great potential for the development of CWR through artificial precipitation enhancement(APE).For the central region,spring,autumn,and winter are suitable seasons for CWR development.For the southeast and southwest regions,P_(s) and PE_(h) in summer are so high that the development of CWR should be avoided.For different spatial scales,there are significant differences in the characteristics of CWR.