An Atmospheric Water Balance over a Mountain Barrier

Edward E. Hindman Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University. Ft. Collins, CO 80523

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Abstract

The flow of moisture through a “slab” of air, upwind and over the Park Range in northwest Colorado, was estimated from wintertime meteorological measurements. On average, 6–14% of the inflow moisture precipitated onto the barrier (86 to 94% flowed over the barrier). Because such a small amount of the moisture precipitates, snowfall augmentation activities on the upwind Park Range barrier should not significantly affect the moisture reaching the downwind Front Range barrier.

Abstract

The flow of moisture through a “slab” of air, upwind and over the Park Range in northwest Colorado, was estimated from wintertime meteorological measurements. On average, 6–14% of the inflow moisture precipitated onto the barrier (86 to 94% flowed over the barrier). Because such a small amount of the moisture precipitates, snowfall augmentation activities on the upwind Park Range barrier should not significantly affect the moisture reaching the downwind Front Range barrier.

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