Augmentation of 1968-1972 Winter Storms in New Mexico

Scientific studies on winter orographic cloud seeding were conducted in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico during the winters of 1968–1969 through 1971–1972. The objective specific components and accomplishments of the project are summarized. The meteorological partitioning technique used in conjunction with the nonparametric statistical analysis indicated that future projects in northern New Mexico should use the 700-mb equivalent potential temperature optimum window until a more refined criteria can show better results in overall snowpack increase. This assumed optimum window resulted in a net seasonal increase of precipitation of about 28% or 14.5cm of equivalent water in 4 yr. Assuming an affected area of about 1,300 km², this increase would be about 49,000,000 m³ (40,000 acre-ft. of additional water on the ground per year of winter cloud seeding.