Precipitation Measurement and Growth Mechanisms in Orographic Wyoming Snowstorms.

摘要

We review activities supported by our WWDC/USGS grant. The first is Jonathan Wolfe’s assessment of data from the Cheyenne National Weather Service Radar, combined with surface measurement of snowrate, and his parameterization of a radar reflectivity / snowrate relationship. Wolfe’s thesis was completed in 2007. The second is Binod Pokharel’s study of airflow and cloud processes inferred using Wyoming King Air and Wyoming Cloud Radar measurements made in orographic clouds formed over the Medicine Bow Mountains. Pokharel’s thesis was completed in 2009. The third is Bujidmaa Borkhuu’s study of snowfall measurement made at the Glacier Lakes Environmental Experimental Site during the winters of 2007 and 2008. This work entails a comparison of snow accumulations made at one of the sites being used to evaluate the efficacy of the Wyoming Weather Modification Pilot Project. Borkhuu’s thesis defense is planned for July 2009. Each of the theses presents significant findings; all three are being advanced to the level necessary for submission to a peer-review journal