Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach
<p>Winter precipitation over Australia's Snowy Mountains provides a crucial water resource in the region. Cloud seeding has been operational to enhance snowfall and water storage. This study presents ensemble simulations to assess cloud seeding impacts across diverse meteorological condi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/6703/2025/acp-25-6703-2025.pdf |
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| author | S. Chen L. Xue S. A. Tessendorf T. Chubb A. Peace S. Kenyon J. Speirs J. Wolff B. Petzke |
| author_facet | S. Chen L. Xue S. A. Tessendorf T. Chubb A. Peace S. Kenyon J. Speirs J. Wolff B. Petzke |
| author_sort | S. Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Winter precipitation over Australia's Snowy Mountains provides a crucial water resource in the region. Cloud seeding has been operational to enhance snowfall and water storage. This study presents ensemble simulations to assess cloud seeding impacts across diverse meteorological conditions and evaluate associated model uncertainties. Nine seeding cases from 2016 to 2019 were simulated, with 18 ensemble members varying initialization datasets and model configurations. Two main storm categories were studied (convective vs. stratiform). Results demonstrate that simulated seeding efficacy highly depends on meteorological conditions. Stratiform cases exhibited consistent precipitation enhancement, while convective cases showed reductions and downwind shifts in precipitation. Significantly inter-member variability was also observed. Notably, simulations driven by the Bureau of Meteorology Atmospheric high-resolution Regional Reanalysis for Australia (BARRA) reanalysis dataset show better representation in supercooled liquid water. Aerosol and planetary boundary layer scheme variations also contributed to ensemble spread. The findings demonstrate the value of ensemble modeling for reliable cloud seeding assessment. Key areas are also identified for future investigations in winter cloud seeding.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4d46d906a6f34157a676a96a98bb9232 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-4d46d906a6f34157a676a96a98bb92322025-08-20T03:14:57ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242025-07-01256703672410.5194/acp-25-6703-2025Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approachS. Chen0L. Xue1S. A. Tessendorf2T. Chubb3A. Peace4S. Kenyon5J. Speirs6J. Wolff7B. Petzke8Research Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USAResearch Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USAResearch Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USAScientific Services, Snowy Hydro Ltd., Cooma, NSW, AustraliaScientific Services, Snowy Hydro Ltd., Cooma, NSW, AustraliaScientific Services, Snowy Hydro Ltd., Cooma, NSW, AustraliaScientific Services, Snowy Hydro Ltd., Cooma, NSW, AustraliaResearch Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USAResearch Applications Laboratory, NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USA<p>Winter precipitation over Australia's Snowy Mountains provides a crucial water resource in the region. Cloud seeding has been operational to enhance snowfall and water storage. This study presents ensemble simulations to assess cloud seeding impacts across diverse meteorological conditions and evaluate associated model uncertainties. Nine seeding cases from 2016 to 2019 were simulated, with 18 ensemble members varying initialization datasets and model configurations. Two main storm categories were studied (convective vs. stratiform). Results demonstrate that simulated seeding efficacy highly depends on meteorological conditions. Stratiform cases exhibited consistent precipitation enhancement, while convective cases showed reductions and downwind shifts in precipitation. Significantly inter-member variability was also observed. Notably, simulations driven by the Bureau of Meteorology Atmospheric high-resolution Regional Reanalysis for Australia (BARRA) reanalysis dataset show better representation in supercooled liquid water. Aerosol and planetary boundary layer scheme variations also contributed to ensemble spread. The findings demonstrate the value of ensemble modeling for reliable cloud seeding assessment. Key areas are also identified for future investigations in winter cloud seeding.</p>https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/6703/2025/acp-25-6703-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | S. Chen L. Xue S. A. Tessendorf T. Chubb A. Peace S. Kenyon J. Speirs J. Wolff B. Petzke Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach |
| title_full | Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach |
| title_fullStr | Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach |
| title_short | Assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in Australia's Snowy Mountains: an ensemble modeling approach |
| title_sort | assessing glaciogenic seeding impacts in australia s snowy mountains an ensemble modeling approach |
| url | https://acp.copernicus.org/articles/25/6703/2025/acp-25-6703-2025.pdf |
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