OCR Text |
Show No Value In Cloud Seeding; Report "U" Scientists The extensive cloud seeding program conducted throughout portions of Southern Utah since 1951 has been of no value, according to a report presentfd by thre University of Utah scientists Thursday, June 23. at the annual meettng of the American Association for the Advancement of Science held In Pass-dna, Calif. Observed scientists J. Vern Hales, head of the department of meteorology, Thomas E. Hot-fer, meteorology lecturer, and Eugene L. Peck, meteorology research assistant, In their 13-page report covering nearly three years of research, ''A desperate need for water, plus a swashbuckling, self-confidence Is not an adequate formula for Kclentlflc progress". The report Htated, "The area average precipitation within the Southern Utnli target region for the 23 needed winter month (October through April) was not different than that which would have been expected from the surrounding areas, based on the relation which were developed from 73 prcrtou months In which no seeding took place." In releasing the research data the three scientists explained, "We sincerely regret that the cloud seeding contract- t or In this project has made claims which we cannot sub- stantlate, even though we have looked diligently." "We would much prefer to let these errors pass silently, but feel that we have an obllga- i Hon to the profession and to the public, particularly to the"peo- pie of Southern Utah who have paid for this evaluation, . An honest discharge of our obllga- T tlon demands that we calt your ' attention to the fact that we 4 cannot possibly agree with, the extravagant claims made," - "In fairness to the contract- j oi," riio report continued, "we J point out that his report cover- ing the first SO month of seed- InR which claimed an Increase of 20 per cent to 30 per cent percipitation In the targcf are' j S Included summer moiiUis, wiilcn our ' 23 month winter sample does not." The scientists explained that although their studies were con- fined to winter months, they completed a qualitative study ot summer months which In their opinion furnished ample evidence to refute a number of claims previously made by the . - . (Continued on Last Pae, Raknakers (Continued from Page One) ' Water llesourees Development Corporation. The scientists con- ! luded that optimistic reports of excessive precipitation In . the ; target area m compared tosur- ; rounding regions were "simply -due to a fortunate choice ot measuring stations". In conducting their three year study, the University of ; Utah scientists confined their ; study to an area which corres- -ponds approximately to Millard, Beaver, Sevier, Emery, Orand, ! and Wayne Counties. These counties were selected because ; they were the only counties un- ; der cloud seedlng contract dur- ' Jng the entire period since the first contract started in April, '. 1961. Summing up the report the ; scientists concluded, "The fall- ure of the 23 -winter months or ' ' cloud seeding In Southern Utah should .not be Interpreted as ' evidence of the complete' failure of all cloud seeding." "IUther, wo think that there j retnalns Rood rettson to believe that carefully conducted experimentation in the field of cloud physics and cloud needing still holds a great deal of hope for real progretM and benefit to die arid portions of the world. We are' sure, however, that careless rloud seeding without adequate ; field controls or associated true xclenUflc Interest should not be '. encouraged |