Winter Storms over the San Juan Mountains. Part III: Seeding Potential

Abstract

The potential for snowfall augmentation in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado is considered. We show that the seeding criteria and delivery method used in the Colorado River Basin Pilot Project were not suited to the storm structure and characteristics described in the preceding two papers. New criteria are suggested and compared to the available statistical results. It is suggested that opportunities for precipitation enhancement by seeding occur in the latter part of the storm sequence, are associated with the release of convective instability, and can be identified by the presence of a zone of horizontal convergence upwind of the mountain range.