U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Silver Spring, Md. 20910
W111
October 22, 1974
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SUBJECT: Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual Issuance 74-22
TO: All Holders of Operations Manual
1. Material Transmitted:
Revised Chapter A-19, Reporting of Weather Modification Activities.
2. Summary:
The revised chapter states the due date for report. It also calls attention to the need to obtain information on the environmental and safety aspects of a weather modification project.
3. Effect on Other Instructions:
Replaces Chapter A-19, "Reporting of Weather Modification Activities," dated August 12, 1974, issuance number 74-18.
George P. Cressman
Director, National Weather Service
Issue Date Org. Code NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Part Chap.
10-22-74 W111 Operations Manual A 19
REPORTING OF WEATHER MODIFICATION ACTIVITIES
Table of Contents:
1. Purpose
2.1 General
* 2.2 Reporting Procedures
* * * * *
1. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to inform National Weather Service's Weather Service Office's (WSO), Weather Service Forecast Office's (WSFO), and regional headquarters about reporting procedures for weather modification activities. The NWS aim is to assist the Environmental Modification Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in collecting reports of weather modification activities.
2. Procedures for WSFO or WSO. The WSFO and WSO are the basic echelons for reporting weather modification activities.
2.1 General. WSFO's and WSO's should be aware of any weather modification activities in their area. It is not expected that the WSFO or WSO should conduct special investigations. Rather the WSFO or WSO personnel should take notice of information on such activities. Weather modification activities can be learned of from newspapers, by briefing weather modification operations, etc. If NWS field personnel have direct contacts with weather modification operators, they should take the opportunity to show the operators a copy of the Federal Rules and Regulations concerning the reporting of weather modification activities.
* 2.2 Reporting Procedures. The following information, if possible, should be gathered for reporting purposes.
a. Sponsor (name of organization or individual).
b. Location (city, state, county, etc.).
c. Method (airborne apparatus, etc.).
d. Purpose (increase precipitation, research, etc.).
e. Approximate area affected, e.g., 25 km2 (10 sq. mi.), 40 km2 (15 sq. mi.), 500 km2 (200 sq. mi.), etc.
f. Environmental and safety aspects (danger to persons, property, or the environment.
WSFO's and WSO's should forward the weather modification activity report quarterly to the regional headquarters no later than the following dates: January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10 for the quarter ending on the last day of the preceding month.
* 3. Reporting Procedures for Regional Headquarters. The regional headquarters will summarize the weather modification activity reports as they come in from the field. The regional headquarters will send the summaries quarterly by mail to the National Weather Service, Technical Procedures Branch, W111, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. If there are no reports the regional headquarters will send a memo stating so. Quarterly reports should be submitted by the regional headquarters no later than the following dates: January 20, April 20, July 20, and October 20.
* 4. Reporting Procedures for Technical Procedures Branch. The Technical Procedures Branch will summarize the reports received from the regional headquarters and then send the summarized report to the Environmental Modification Office. If there are no reports, a memo should be sent stating so. The Technical Procedures Branch will forward the summary report no later than the following dates: January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.
WSOM Issuance
74-22