Abstract:

The aim of our project proposal is to develop a reliable laboratory technique for testing full-size rocket aerosol generators that are intended to impact on adverse atmospheric phenomena, such as hail and drought.

The problems related to the development of methods for active impacting on clouds in order to suppress hail or to increase the amount of precipitation are highly relevant. Exploration programs are implemented on a long-term basis in more than 40 countries, including the Republic of Moldova. The efficiency of these activities mainly depends on the properties of cloud seeding reagents and their rocket generators. Effective analysis and control of the generator characteristics, as well as the reagent quality, are the technological and methodological basis for a successful implementation of the active impacts.

The proposed project is aimed at increasing the efficiency of active impacts on the meteorological processes in order to suppress hail and precipitation inducing. To improve the performance and quality of reagents and to develop recommendations on their optimum use for various problems of active impacts, it is necessary to update and assimilate new methods for estimating the properties of reagents using the available aerodynamic stand in line with modern requirements. Through the creation of strictly controlled conditions that are maximally similar to natural ones, we intend to achieve a better understanding of the processes of ice crystal nucleation and their growth on the centers of crystallization obtained from different pyrotechnic compositions. A thorough modernization of our aerodynamic system will allow us to increase the air speed during the formation of particles and to provide more controllable conditions at the stage of water droplet growth and ice crystallization, thus providing the conditions that maximally correspond to the real ones during the flight of a rocket that seeds clouds with reagents. To study the active seeding of reagents resulting in aerosol droplets and ice crystals, we will employ an optical interferometry method for the characterization of particles. Based on the modernized installation, our project will be mainly focused on the development of new pyrotechnical compositions, which are intended both for more effective influence on clouds to obtain surplus of water during dry periods and for the prevention of hail cloud formation.

Understanding of the nature of nucleation and growth of ice crystals or water droplets will provide a better control of these processes. The obtained results will be useful for practical combating hailstones and inducing artificial rainfalls. These results will help us to perform our routine laboratory activities on the operating control of properties and quality of rocket generators and reagents used in Moldova and in neighboring countries. In addition, the optical interferometry method of particle imaging can be further applied in different important technological processes.