THE POTENTIALITY OF THE “DAPHNE” RAIN ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IN THESSALY, GREECE

Abstract

The developed Conceptual Model “DAPHNE” is presented. The model “DAPHNE” aims at tackling the problem of drought in the most vital agricultural area of Greece, Thessaly, by means of Weather Modification. It is developed through all the necessary scientific tools to support the potentiality and applicability of a well-designed precipitation enhancement program and to assess thoroughly the impact of its implementation on the environment. Its development relied upon: (i) the 10-year period 2001-2010 surface and upper air meteorological measurements, (ii) the use of the state-of-the-science WRF numerical model with sophisticated microphysical parameterizations, (iii) the adaptation of the 3D cloud model for performing simulations of cloud seeding experiments, (iv) the radar information from a C band (5-cm) weather radar, through the “TITAN” (Thunderstorm Identification, Tracking, Analysis, and Nowcasting) algorithm and (v) the conduction of instrumented aircraft flights for in-situ measurements and carrying out actual aircraft cloud seeding experiments on suitably chosen appropriate clouds over Thessaly area. Moreover, sampling of precipitated water and consequent soil is performed to investigate the impact of the seeding material on the environment. It is believed, that all these state-of-art tools and aircraft observations have been combined to create the necessary fundamental principles for the development of the “DAPHNE” Conceptual Model that will potentially define the feasibility and applicability of a future rain enhancement program in Thessaly. The developed conceptual model potentially defines -if, when, where and how- a precipitation enhancement program would be applicable over the examined area. It sets the spatial, temporal and meteorological conditions that must be met, so that cloud seeding of appropriate cloud types will be feasible, aiming in precipitation enhancement and mitigation of drought in the major area of Thessaly, Greece.

Keywords

• “daphne”
• conceptual model
• weather modification
• rain enhancement
• thessaly-greece