Physical Inspection of Randomized Trial for the Artificial Rain Enhancement Experiment at Gutian from 2014 to 2022

Hu Shuping; Lin Wen; Lin Changcheng; Li Dan; Jiang Shanci; Feng Hongfang

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20230606

Vol.34, NO.6, 2023

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Hu Shuping, Lin Wen, Lin Changcheng, et al. Physical inspection of randomized trial for the artificial rain enhancement experiment at Gutian from 2014 to 2022. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2023, 34(6): 706-716. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20230606.

Citation:

Hu Shuping, Lin Wen, Lin Changcheng, et al. Physical inspection of randomized trial for the artificial rain enhancement experiment at Gutian from 2014 to 2022. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2023, 34(6): 706-716. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20230606.

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Physical Inspection of Randomized Trial for the Artificial Rain Enhancement Experiment at Gutian from 2014 to 2022

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20230606

Hu Shuping¹,
Lin Wen^{2, 3, 4
,
,},
Lin Changcheng²,
Li Dan^{2, 3, 4},
Jiang Shanci¹,
Feng Hongfang^{2, 3, 4}

1.
Gutian Meteorological Station of Ningdde, Fujian, Ningde 352000
2.
Fujian Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Fuzhou 350001
3.
Fujian Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Fuzhou 350001
4.
Key Laboratory for Strait Disaster Weather of CMA, Fuzhou 350001

Received Date: 2023-07-09
Rev Recd Date: 2023-09-25
Publish Date: 2023-11-27

Abstract

Abstract

The verification of the effectiveness of artificial rain enhancement is a worldwide challenge. Based on random experiments of ground-based rocket artificial rain enhancement at Gutian from 2014 to 2022, physical verification of stage samples is carried out using radar macro parameters such as radar echo intensity, echo top height, and thickness of the negative temperature layer. The evolution characteristic analysis of dual-polarization parameters Z_DR and K_DP is conducted. The physical characteristic response of seeded cases is studied by combining ground raindrop size distribution data. The analysis results show that the non-seeded samples have a small increase in echo intensity, echo top height, and negative temperature layer thickness after hypothetical artificial precipitation enhancement operation, but then quickly decrease. Seeded samples generally show an increase in echo intensity after operation, reaching a peak after 36 minutes. There are 52.6%, 21.1% and 7.9% of seeded samples with maximum growth rates of 0-20%(excluding 0), 20%-50%(excluding 20%) and above 50%, respectively. Half of seeded samples show an increase in echo top height and negative temperature layer thickness, with the former showing a significant increase after 30 minutes and maintaining stability, while the latter increase significantly after 12 minutes. Among them, 36.8%, 13.2% and 2.6% of seeded samples increase with maximum growth rates of 0-20%(excluding 0), 20%-50%(excluding 20%) and over 50%, respectively. At the same time, the dual-polarization parameters Z_DR and K_DP show sustained enhancement after operation. From the physical response characteristics of seeded individual case, Z_DR column appearing in the cloud after operation indicates that the upward airflow in the cloud has increased, causing the echo top height to rise and the echo intensity to increase or maintain. At the same time, K_DP column also indicates that there are more large raindrops or partially melted ice particles in the cloud after operation. The ground rainfall size distribution shows a characteristic of increasing first with small and medium drops and then with large drops, resulting in an increase in spectral width. The maximum minute rainfall intensity generated by the cloud system within 50 minutes after the operation increases significantly, and the cumulative rainfall has increased by 49% compared to the operation time. In summary, cloud seeding helps the development, enhancement, and maintenance of clouds, not only increasing the number and size of precipitation particles, but also to some extent prolonging the life of the cloud.
- artificial rain enhancement;
- randomized experiments;
- physical testing;
- radar;
- raindrop size distribution

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References(47)

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1 Change in radar echo intensity before and after operation

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Fig. 2 Changes in echo top height and negative temperature layer thickness before and after operation

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Fig. 3 Change in maximum of Z_DR and K_DP for seeded and non-seeded samples

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Fig. 4 Radar echo intensity sequence puzzle before and after operation on 4 May 2021 (operation period is 1703-1705 BT)

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Fig. 5 Cross-sections of Z_H, Z_DR and K_DP of the seeded sample on 4 May 2021

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Fig. 6 Comparison of raindrop-scale mean spectra before and after operation

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Table 1 Change in radar echo intensity within 60 min after operation

作业后状态	催化样本		非催化样本
作业后状态	样本量	比例/%	样本量	比例/%
增强	31	81.6	12	30.8
维持	5	13.1	8	20.5
减弱	2	5.3	19	48.7
注：增强含先增强后减弱、持续增强、先增强后维持3种情况，减弱含持续减弱、先减弱后维持两种情况，维持指参数连续30 min以上保持不变。

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Table 2 Radar echo intensity growth rate within 60 min after operation

增长率r/%	催化样本		非催化样本
增长率r/%	样本量	比例/%	样本量	比例/%
r＜0	2	5.3	19	48.7
r=0	5	13.1	8	20.5
0＜r≤20	20	52.6	10	25.7
20＜r≤50	8	21.1	2	5.1
r＞50	3	7.9	0	0
注：参量X增长率：r=(X₂-X₁)/X₁×100%，X₁表示作业时样本的参量值，X₂表示作业后样本参量X的极值。

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Table 3 Change in radar echo top height within 60 min after operation

最大回波顶高变化	催化样本		非催化样本
最大回波顶高变化	样本量	比例/%	样本量	比例/%
增长	20	52.6	13	33.3
维持	16	42.1	8	20.5
降低	2	5.3	18	46.2
注：增长含先增长后降低、先增长后维持、持续增长3种情况，降低含持续降低、先降低后维持两种情况，维持指参数连续30 min以上保持不变。

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Table 4 Radar echo top height growth rate within 60 min after operation

增长率r/%	催化样本		非催化样本
增长率r/%	样本量	比例/%	样本量	比例/%
r＜0	2	5.3	18	46.2
r=0	16	42.1	8	20.5
0＜r≤20	14	36.8	11	28.2
20＜r≤50	5	13.2	2	5.1
r＞50	1	2.6	0	0

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Table 5 Double ratio of radar echo parameters between seeded and non-seeded samples

作业后时间	回波强度	回波顶高	负温层厚度
6 min	1.00	1.02	1.01
12 min	1.05	1.08	1.16
18 min	1.10	1.08	1.17
24 min	1.12	1.08	1.17
30 min	1.18	1.10	1.21
36 min	1.19	1.12	1.19
42 min	1.18	1.17	1.22
48 min	1.17	1.15	1.26
54 min	1.19	1.20	1.31
60 min	1.20	1.17	1.25

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