Comments on Muralikrishna et al. "Design and Evaluation of Hygroscopic Seeding Operations in Andhra Pradesh , India"

Abstract

I am skeptical about results presented in this article.  I participated in seeding operations in Andhra Pradesh with the Weather Modification, Incorporated (WMI), team during operations in 2004 (September-October).   I worked with radar data and carried out operational seeding duties. Very deep convection was observed during that period. Cloud tops reached 15-18 km. The cold rain process predominated.  Hygroscopic  seeding  was  not  practically  used  during  that  period  by  the  WMI  team; rather, AgI  seeding  was  used.  There  were  some attempts  of AGNI Aviation,  Inc,  (India)  to  use  hygroscopic  flares  to  seed  altocumulus  clouds,  but cloud characteristics and possible rain increase associated with these types of clouds seemed miserable in comparison with rain produced by the deep cumulus.  Moreover,  these  hygroscopic  seeding operations were carried out for nearly a week and caused a lot of doubts that time. Most of seeding operations during 2003 were also carried out with AgI as far as I know.