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Abstract

Cloud seeding is a technique that aims to increase precipitation by introducing seeding material into clouds. To achieve success in cloud seeding, it is crucial to target the clouds accurately by placing the seeding material at the right place and time. However, operational experience has shown that this task is not always straightforward. While it is clear from theory that targeting clouds is vital, finding seedable convective elements in practice is often challenging. To address this issue, this paper evaluates how successful manned aircraft operations can find seedable convective elements while being navigated by radar operators. It compares flight tracks with radar analysis of growing convective elements. The study provides a framework for evaluating the success of such operations and planning the logistics for future cloud seeding projects. The study shows that manned aircraft operations can successfully find seedable convective elements when guided by radar operators, but there is much room for improvement. However, it also highlights the importance of accurate navigation and targeting to achieve the desired results in cloud seeding. The study provides insights into the technical and logistical challenges of cloud seeding, which can help to improve the effectiveness of cloud seeding projects in the future.