Due to increasing demands on water supplies and the negative eff Due to increasing demands on water supplies and the negative effects of climate ects of climate variability and change, south east Queensland frequently suffers variability and change, south east Queensland frequently suffers severe water severe water shortages. Based on recent scientific advances in cloud seeding shortages. Based on recent scientific advances in cloud seeding techniques, a techniques, a research project was commissioned by the Queensland Government research project was commissioned by the Queensland Government in 2007. The in 2007. The aim of the project is to investigate the potential for cloud see aim of the project is to investigate the potential for cloud seeding technologies in the ding technologies in the Somerset and Wivenhoe catchments of south east Queensland as par Somerset and Wivenhoe catchments of south east Queensland as part of the solution t of the solution to the regions water shortages. to the regions water shortages. The ongoing project has involved over 40 dedicated personnel, re The ongoing project has involved over 40 dedicated personnel, research aircraft and search aircraft and the Bureau of Meteorology the Bureau of Meteorology’ s advanced weather radar facilities located at Redbank s advanced weather radar facilities located at Redbank Plains and Mt Plains and Mt Stapylton Stapylton. During the first season, which took place from December . During the first season, which took place from December 2007 to March 2008, randomised seeding experiments were carried 2007 to March 2008, randomised seeding experiments were carried out to quantify the out to quantify the effect of hygroscopic seeding using pyrotechnic flares which rel effect of hygroscopic seeding using pyrotechnic flares which rel ease small particles of ease small particles of potassium chloride at the base of convective clouds ( potassium chloride at the base of convective clouds (Bruintjes Bruintjes, 1999). , 1999). Research into the Research into the climatological climatological characteristics of precipitation in the target area characteristics of precipitation in the target area including the frequency of cumulus clouds suitable for seeding h including the frequency of cumulus clouds suitable for seeding has also been as also been undertaken. The CP2 undertaken. The CP2 polarimetric polarimetric radar at Redbank Plains and the local Bureau of radar at Redbank Plains and the local Bureau of Meteorology radar network are used to evaluate the effects of se Meteorology radar network are used to evaluate the effects of seeding on precipitation eding on precipitation flux, duration and storm dynamics including secondary cell initi flux, duration and storm dynamics including secondary cell initi ation. Radar estimates ation. Radar estimates of precipitation are calibrated using a ground of precipitation are calibrated using a ground-based video based video disdrometer disdrometer. Cloud . Cloud microphysical data was collected by the research aircraft which microphysical data was collected by the research aircraft which was equipped with was equipped with over 20 microphysical recording instruments. over 20 microphysical recording instruments. The program has been highly successful in providing cloud statis The program has been highly successful in providing cloud statistical data for the tical data for the target area in addition to evaluating aircraft based hygroscopic target area in addition to evaluating aircraft based hygroscopic seeding activities. Sub seeding activities. Sub- tropical maritime warm shallow convective clouds rather than the tropical maritime warm shallow convective clouds rather than the more potentially more potentially suitable deep convective cloud systems were a feature of the fir suitable deep convective cloud systems were a feature of the first seasons weather. st seasons weather. Although positive trends in terms of increased cell duration are Although positive trends in terms of increased cell duration are apparent in the data, apparent in the data, the number of randomised cases (27) is not sufficient to draw st the number of randomised cases (27) is not sufficient to draw statistically significant atistically significant conclusions regarding the efficacy of hygroscopic seeding of the conclusions regarding the efficacy of hygroscopic seeding of these clouds. This se clouds. This important scientific research program has continued into the 200 important scientific research program has continued into the 2008-2009 season. 2009 season. Based on results to date there is strong incentive for further r Based on results to date there is strong incentive for further research into the esearch into the hygroscopic seeding of deep convective clouds throughout south e hygroscopic seeding of deep convective clouds throughout south east Queensland ast Queensland and its potential for inland catchments. and its potential for inland catchments. Bruintjes Bruintjes, R. 1999 A review of cloud seeding experiments to enhance preci , R. 1999 A review of cloud seeding experiments to enhance preci pitation and pitation and some new prospects. Bull. Am. Met. Soc. 80(5) 805 some new prospects. Bull. Am. Met. Soc. 80(5) 805-820. 820. Tessendorf Tessendorf, S.A., and co , S.A., and co-authors, 2008: Preliminary observations of cloud and authors, 2008: Preliminary observations of cloud and precipitation characteristics in the Brisbane, Australia region. precipitation characteristics in the Brisbane, Australia region. International Conf. on International Conf. on Clouds and Precipitation, International Commission on Clouds and Clouds and Precipitation, International Commission on Clouds and Precipitation, Precipitation, Cancun, Mexico Cancun, Mexico Queensland Cloud Seeding Research Program QCSRP Ian Craig and Roger Stone Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments (ACSC) University of Southern Queensland, Australia Project overview Contact Details: [email protected]@usq.edu.au ACSC Website: www.usq.edu.au/acsc Figure 1: Figure 1: SAWS/WITS SAWS/WITS Aerocommander Aerocommander 690A research aircraft (upper left), DMT CAPS probe (upper righ 690A research aircraft (upper left), DMT CAPS probe (upper right), t), BOM/NCAR CP2 dual wavelength BOM/NCAR CP2 dual wavelength polarimetric polarimetric radar (centre left), vertical section image through a hail stor radar (centre left), vertical section image through a hail storm (centre m (centre right), hygroscopic flare in operation below a convective cloud right), hygroscopic flare in operation below a convective cloud (lower left), WMI/MIPD Cheyenne II randomised (lower left), WMI/MIPD Cheyenne II randomised seeding aircraft (lower right), seeding aircraft (lower right), Craig I 1 , Stone R 1 , Bruintjes R 2 , Tessendorf S 2 , Axisa D 2 , Dixon M 2 , Pocernich M 2 , Brandes E 2 , Ikeda K 2 , Wilson J 2 , Roberts R 2 , Breed D 2 , Ziady L 2 , Peter J 3 , Manton M 3 , Seims S 3 , May P 4 Keenan T 4 , Glasson K 4 , Gunn B 4 , Collis S 4 , Abbs D 5 Piketh S 6 , Orsmond R 6 , McGarry H 6 , Edwards S 6 , Burger R 6 , Kruger H 6 , Wiggins G 6 , Hingst J 6 , Broccardo S 6 , Nierop N 6 , Waal K 6 , Kroese N 6 , Nchpa X 6 , Brailall S 6 , Walton N 6 , Brady P 7 , Choma G 7 , Smith D 7 , O’Donnell N 7 , Carr J 7 , O’Doherty N 7 McRae D 8 Fitzmaurice L 8 1 University of Southern Queensland (USQ); 2 US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) 3 Monash University, Melbourne (Monash) 4 Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) 5 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) 6 Witwatersrand University / South African Weather Service (WITS/SAWS) 7 Weather Modification Inc / MIPD (WMI / MIPD) 8 Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence/Environmental Protection Agency (QCCCE/EPA) Horizontal vortex seed decision time DT significant effect on storm duration effect of seeding difficult to detect here precipitation flux storm count precip flux storm area reflectivity dBz storm height storm duration storm speed storm direction