The Queensland cloud seeding research program

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

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Author Tessendorf, Sarah
Bruintjes, Roelof
Weeks Karkkainen, Courtney
Wilson, James
Knight, Charles
Roberts, Rita
Peter, Justin
Collis, Scott
Buseck, Peter
Freney, Evelyn
Dixon, Michael
Pocernich, Matthew
Ikeda, Kyoko
Axisa, Duncan
Nelson, Eric
May, Peter
Richter, Harald
Piketh, Stuart
Burger, Roelof
Wilson, Louise
Siems, Steven
Manton, Michael
Stone, Roger
Pepler, Acacia
Collins, Don
Bringi, V.
Thurai, M.
Turner, Lynne
McRae, David
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2012-01-01T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
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Resource Version N/A
Topic Category geoscientificInformation
Progress N/A
Metadata Date 2023-08-18T18:59:19.782572
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:12038
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Tessendorf, Sarah, Bruintjes, Roelof, Weeks Karkkainen, Courtney, Wilson, James, Knight, Charles, Roberts, Rita, Peter, Justin, Collis, Scott, Buseck, Peter, Freney, Evelyn, Dixon, Michael, Pocernich, Matthew, Ikeda, Kyoko, Axisa, Duncan, Nelson, Eric, May, Peter, Richter, Harald, Piketh, Stuart, Burger, Roelof, Wilson, Louise, Siems, Steven, Manton, Michael, Stone, Roger, Pepler, Acacia, Collins, Don, Bringi, V., Thurai, M., Turner, Lynne, McRae, David. (2012). The Queensland cloud seeding research program. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7w096nm. Accessed 28 July 2025.

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