Case Study of Ground-Based Glaciogenic Seeding of Clouds over the Pyeongchang Region

Abstract

Ground-based glaciogenic seeding experiments were conducted at the Daegwallyeong Cloud Physics Observation Site (CPOS) from 2012 to 2015 for the target area Yongpyeong, which lies 9 km away. The preseeding (NOSEED) and seeding (SEED) periods were defined based on the simulation results of AgI concentration (>10 L−1) in the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model with the modified Morrison scheme in microphysics. It was difficult to determine whether snow enhancement via seeding occurred over the entire target area due to uncertainties associated with limitations such as observations and numerical model based on only two points (seeding and target sites). However, in three of four cases, the vertical reflectivity from micro rain radar, total concentration, and average size of snow particles observed at PARSIVEL and precipitation increased in the seeding effect time. In two of four cases, the simulated increased precipitation during the seeding effect time was also observed. In one case that did not show changes after seeding, it is analyzed that a sufficient cloud depth was not supplied to the seeding region due to the blocking effect of the Taebaek Mountains.