|
|
|
Snowy bid for cloud seeding
20 Aug 2003
Snowy Hydro Ltd believes cloud seeding could deliver more than 100 gigalitres a year in extra water to the River Murray. The company will tell a parliamentary inquiry today that seeding clouds in Winter could increase snowfall and run-off into the Murray. It says that cloud seeding is the fastest and cheapest way to achieve this, with no apparent disadvantages. It is a technique that has been used successfully in Tasmania and the US.
There has been a steady reduction in snowfall over the past 50 years over the main Snowy range. The primary seeding method would be from ground generators, with a 6 per cent run-off increase achieved within two years.
The main commercial benefits of cloud seeding would be greater and more reliable water flows for Murray River irrigators and communities, and increased hydro electricity generation, Snowy Hydro said. The environment would also benefit through improved river and alpine ecology, reduced salinity and lower greenhouse emissions.
Weekly Times, 20/8/03, page 4.
|
|
