The Analysis of Airborne Stereophotographic and Rain Parameter Data of Project Cloud Puff IV,
Abstract
Aircraft-measured stereophotographic and rain parameter data collected during Project Cloud Puff IV have been analyzed. Results of the rain parameter analysis show that cumulus congestus clouds seeded with 40 to 60 grams of silver iodide are different than natural cumulus congestus in the following ways: (1) The seeded clouds produced 72% more rain, statistically significant at 15%; (2) the heavier rain in the rainshafts of the seeded clouds was concentrated in smaller cores, (3) the raindrop percentage distributions of the seeded rain showed higher percentage frequencies for 1 mm diameter drops at rainrates below 15 mm/hr, and an opposite effect at rainrates above 15 mm/hr. Subjecting the stereophotographic technique to an error analysis has shown that the height of cloud features 10 nm from the aircraft can be determined with an accuracy of 3 to 5%. Cloud features can be located within an error circle of 1.5 nm diameter when the aircraft is radar tracked and 5 nm diameter when the aircraft track is determined from radionavigational aids. These errors increase as distance of the cloud feature to the aircraft increases. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0729505
Entities
People
- Joe L. Sutherland
- Lynn W. Cooper