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Ice Crystal Engineering, LLC Jim Gunkelman 15985 49th R Street SE Davenport, North Dakota 58021 Phone 701-428-9882 Fax 701-428-9884 e-mail: info@iceflares.com Ground-Based Flare Tree An Effective Alternative to the Solution-Burning Ground-Based Generator For years, weather modification programs seeking to treat clouds from the surface, especially those requiring continuous treatment for lengthy periods such as orographic seeding programs, have relied upon the ground-based, solution-burning ice nucleus generator. These units have proven effective in many programs, but are not without their difficulties. Research during the last fifteen years has repeatedly demonstrated the need for orographic seeding programs to site their generators well above the valley floors. This means that the ideal site is seldom readily accessible, and that properly sited generators are in many cases well removed from roadways, and difficult to service. Cold season visits frequently require helicopter or snowmobile to access the sites, and the propane and seeding solutions are bulky and heavy, not easy to transport over snow or in rough terrain. The Ground-Based Flare Tree, or GBFT, offers the same ground-based delivery of seeding agents, but without much of the trouble. Each tree holds up to 108 flares, with flare yields of up to 150 grams. Control is remote, with digital ignition via command send via cellular or satellite telephone. The GBFT is less expensive to build, simple to maintain, and easier and faster to install. Trees can be daisy-chained, to allow for extended capacity. In the event additional flares are needed at the site, transport of the comparatively lightweight, easily handled flares is much less complicated than the airlifting or over-snow transport of loaded solution tanks. However, the best reason to consider the GBFT when configuring your next ground-based seeding program may be the increased effectiveness. The ICE aerosol produces 1011 nuclei per gram, active at temperatures as warm as -4°C, whereas the nuclei from the solution do not exhibit similar numbers until temperatures of -6°C are reached. This means that the ICE pyrotechnic will begin to generate cloud ice at warmer temperatures. In an orographic situation where the air cools as it flows upward and over the barrier, this means ice crystals will form sooner, increasing the time available for growth to precipitable sizes while over the mountain! However, this is not the sole advantage. One must also consider the time required for activation. The difference in the speed of activation is minutes faster for the ICE aerosol, which for 63% activation requires on the order of 1 min, whereas the solution-based aerosols require ~6 to 8 min. Ninety percent activation requires ~5 and ~15 min, respectively. SUMMARY Seeding with the GBFT affords a wider temperature window of opportunity, making targeting clouds as warm as -4°C possible. In addition, the ICE pyrotechnic formulation affords a significantly faster means of initiating ice development. In orographic programs, speed is of the essence. Time lost while an aerosol becomes active is often time lost for precipitation growth. For more information on the GBFT and how it can boost your program effectiveness and ease of operations, please contact Mr. Jim Gunkelman via the "Contact Us" page. Home  |  ICE EJ  |  ICE EB  |  ICE H BIP  |  ICE GBFT Research & Service  |  Request Information  |  Contact Us