Potential Augmentation of Precipitation from Cooling Tower Effluents

Abstract

A summary of present knowledge on the effects of waste heat and water vapor discharged from large cooling towers on augmentation of the natural precipitation downwind of such installations is presented. Available information is used to provide some insight into the potential quantitative effects. It is concluded that atmospheric scientists have not acquired adequate information at this time to define in quantitative terms the meteorological consequences of the large amounts of heat energy and water vapor released into the atmosphere from cooling towers associated with large power plants, and that atmospheric research should be initiated at once to alleviate the lack of knowledge on this pertinent environmental problem. Some basic recommendations for the type and duration of needed research are presented.