Abstract
The microphysical consequences of seeding stratiform clouds near the Sierra Nevada Mountains are examined. Airborne seeding was conducted with droppable AgI flares released every 250 m and with dry ice pellets released at a rate of 0.1 g m−1 into the clouds having widespread liquid water contents ∼0.1 g m−3. The Wyoming King Air penetrated the AgI curtains for ∼1 h after seeding. The CO2 ice crystal curtain could not be determined beyond ∼10 min because of natural cloud glaciation. Precipitation sized particles grew mainly by diffusion, and particle size spectra at particular levels below cloud top reached and maintained equilibrium shapes as a consequence of particles falling from higher levels.