The Hindu : Cloud seeding and its effects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Cloud seeding and its effects

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI Sept. 16. What is the effect of cloud seeding? A case study prepared by the Irrigation Department on the basis of radar images taken after cloud seeding gives an interesting insight into the operation.

On September 3 at 6.24 p.m. the first radar image was taken two minutes after the aircraft seeded one of the clouds about 50 km. north-west of Jakkur, Bangalore, of the total of three echoes seen on the screen. The one situated between 30 km. and 50 km. south of Jakkur and a smaller one 60 km. east of Jakkur, both with a cloud top height of 5 km. to 5.5 km., were not seeded.

Another image taken 16 minutes after the seeding showed some significant changes. The maximum reflectivity in the seeded system had increased to 34dBz and the cloud had travelled six km. downwind of the seeding point. The cloud tops had increased to six km. from 5.5 km. noticed in the previous image. The seeded cloud had increased its intensity, while the cloud top of the two unseeded cloud system was five km. Both the unseeded clouds had shifted downstream in the last 14 minutes and there was perceptible reduction in the reflectivity too. In one case, the maximum reflectivity of the unseeded cloud no. 2 had been reduced from 36 dBz to 30dBz. Both the unseeded clouds had decreased intensity.

Our Bangalore Staff Reporter writes: Meanwhile, a second radar to monitor cloud seeding operations will start working from September 20 in Gadag, according to a release from Weather Modifications Inc., the company hired by the State Government for cloud seeding operations.

Gadag was considered for locating the second radar as it was "ideally located to monitor seeding operations towards most of the reservoir catchment areas of northern Karnataka," the release said. "All logistic support already exists there for monitoring," the release said.

Since September 13, there had been rain at Arasalu (5.6 mm.), Humcha (10), Subramanya (9.8), Shanthahalli (5.3), Ponnampet (9.2), and Srimangala (8.8).

The aircraft is sent to Hubli, Gadag, Davangere, and Haveri each morning, and on the way back seeding is attempted over Chikmaglur, Hassan, and Mysore.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Rs. 10-cr. soon for procuring ragi, maize

1,085 'in race' for Rajyotsava awards

Opposition misleading people: Kharge

Cong. workers attack AIPJD leader

Suicide: compensation paid to two families

JD(S) pays tributes to Visvesvaraya

AP request: State has to meet its requirements first, says Patil

Cloud seeding and its effects

Apologise for remark, Gowda urged