Weather Modification Test Technology Symposium 1997 USAF DR Arnold A Barnes JR
Weather Modification Test Technology Symposium 1997 USAF DR Arnold A Barnes JR
Weather Modification Test Technology Symposium 1997 USAF DR Arnold A Barnes JR
by Dr. Arnold A. Barnes, Jr. Senior Scientist Optical Effects Division Phillips Laboratory 19 March 1997
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Weather Modification/PL/GPA/AAB/970402 1
DEGRADE ENEMY FORCES Precipitation Enhancement Flood Lines of Communication Reduce PGM/Recce Effectiveness Decrease Comfort Level/Morale Storm Enhancement Deny Operations Precipitation Denial Deny Fresh Water Induce Drought Space Weather Disrupt Communications/Radar Disable/Destroy Space Assets Fog and Cloud Removal Deny Concealment Increase Vulnerability to PGM/Recce Detect Hostile Weather Activities
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ENHANCE FRIENDLY FORCES Precipitation Avoidance Maintain/Improve LOC Maintain Visibility Maintain Comfort Level/Morale Storm Modification Choose Battlespace Environment Space Weather Improve Communication Reliability Intercept Enemy Transmissions Revitalize Space Assets Fog and Cloud Generation Increase Concealment Fog and Cloud Removal Maintain Airfield Operations Enhance PGM Effectiveness Defend Against Enemy Capabilities
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TREATY ISSUES
The U. N. Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification, which went into effect 5 October 1978, applies only to widespread, long-lasting or severe environmental modifications. Local, non-permanent changes, such as precipitation enhancement, hail suppression , fog and cloud dispersal, are permitted under the U. N. treaty. Since 1978 the official Air Force position has been that weather modification had little utility or military payoff as a weapon of war. The official Air Force position needs to be reevaluated: In the light of 19 years of scientific advances In the light of advanced weapon systems which are more environmentally sensitive To prepare against technological surprise
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DEGRADE ENEMY FORCES Precipitation Enhancement Flood Lines of Communication Reduce PGM/Recce Effectiveness Decrease Comfort Level/Morale Storm Enhancement Deny Operations Precipitation Denial Deny Fresh Water Induce Drought Space Weather Disrupt Communications/Radar Disable/Destroy Space Assets Fog and Cloud Removal Deny Concealment Increase Vulnerability to PGM/Recce Detect Hostile Weather Activities
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ENHANCE FRIENDLY FORCES Precipitation Avoidance Maintain/Improve LOC Maintain Visibility Maintain Comfort Level/Morale Storm Modification Choose Battlespace Environment Space Weather Improve Communication Reliability Intercept Enemy Transmissions Revitalize Space Assets Fog and Cloud Generation Increase Concealment Fog and Cloud Removal Maintain Airfield Operations Enhance PGM Effectiveness Defend Against Enemy Capabilities
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SOLAR ACTIVITY
HAARP
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DEGRADE ENEMY FORCES Precipitation Enhancement Flood Lines of Communication Reduce PGM/Recce Effectiveness Decrease Comfort Level/Morale Storm Enhancement Deny Operations Precipitation Denial Deny Fresh Water Induce Drought Space Weather Disrupt Communications/Radar Disable/Destroy Space Assets Fog and Cloud Removal Deny Concealment Increase Vulnerability to PGM/Recce Detect Hostile Weather Activities
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ENHANCE FRIENDLY FORCES Precipitation Avoidance Maintain/Improve LOC Maintain Visibility Maintain Comfort Level/Morale Storm Modification Choose Battlespace Environment Space Weather Improve Communication Reliability Intercept Enemy Transmissions Revitalize Space Assets Fog and Cloud Generation Increase Concealment Fog and Cloud Removal Maintain Airfield Operations Enhance PGM Effectiveness Defend Against Enemy Capabilities
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CLOUD SEEDING
WEATHER MODIFICATION USING CARBON BLACK (1)
Increase Precipitation Muddy dirt roads to decrease tractability Flood fields and small rivers Decrease troop comfort level Decrease tractability by snow or freezing rain when the temperature conditions are right Decrease Precipitation # Dry out roads/fields for improved tractability Deny fresh water to troops in semi-dry regions
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PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF NUCLEATION CLOUD PHYSICS AND RADIATION COMPUTERS AND NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION (NWP) MODELS
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Weather Modification/PL/GPA/AAB/970402 16
DEGRADE ENEMY FORCES Precipitation Enhancement Flood Lines of Communication Reduce PGM/Recce Effectiveness Decrease Comfort Level/Morale Storm Enhancement Deny Operations Precipitation Denial Deny Fresh Water Induce Drought Space Weather Disrupt Communications/Radar Disable/Destroy Space Assets Fog and Cloud Removal Deny Concealment Increase Vulnerability to PGM/Recce Detect Hostile Weather Activities
TTS 97
ENHANCE FRIENDLY FORCES Precipitation Avoidance Maintain/Improve LOC Maintain Visibility Maintain Comfort Level/Morale Storm Modification Choose Battlespace Environment Space Weather Improve Communication Reliability Intercept Enemy Transmissions Revitalize Space Assets Fog and Cloud Generation Increase Concealment Fog and Cloud Removal Maintain Airfield Operations Enhance PGM Effectiveness Defend Against Enemy Capabilities
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STORM MODIFICATION
ENERGY REACHING TOP OF ATMOSPHERE FROM THE SUN
1340 WATTS/m2 = 1340 joules m-2 sec-1 1.7 x 1017 joules sec-1 4 x 107 Tons TNT sec-1 = 40 Megatons TNT sec-1
SMALL THUNDERSTORM
7 x 109 joules sec-1 2 Tons TNT sec-1
HURRICANE
7 x 1014 joules sec-1 200 Kilotons TNT sec-1
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LIMITS OF FORECASTS
1950 3 DAYS 1997 7 DAYS 2040 14 DAYS MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOUD FORECASTS BY 2010
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COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND LIGHTNING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND LIGHTNING NEED TO INVOLVE WEATHER OFFICERS VERY EARLY
WW II RADAR EXAMPLE
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SUMMARY
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SHORT TERM FORECASTS BY 2010 14 DAY FORECASTS BY 2040 CURRENT CAPABILITIES TARGETED FOG DISPERSAL LOCAL CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION CLOUD MODIFICATION - SURVEILLANCE/COVERAGE HOLE BORING CREATE/SUPPRESS CIRRUS/CONTRAILS IONOSPHERIC MODIFICATION ENERGY REQUIREMENTS TOO LARGE FOR MAJOR STORMS TREATY RESTRICTIONS NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS PUSH THE ENVELOPE THE ENVIRONMENT MUST BE CONSIDERED FROM THE START OF THE CONCEPT/DESIGN FOR ALL NEW WEAPON SYSTEMS
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