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BENIGN WEATHER MODIFICATIONBYBARRY B. COBLEA THESIS PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OFTHE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIRPOWER STUDIESFOR COMPLETION OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTSSCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIRPOWER STUDIESAIR UNIVERSITYMAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMAJUNE 1996Disclaimer
 
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author. They do not reflectthe official position of the US Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force, orAir University
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Major Barry B. Coble was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, NorthCarolina State University in 1981. His first assignment was as an Environmental Simulations Analystat the USAF Environmental Technical Applications Center at Scott AFB, Illinois. From there he wentto Fort Bragg, North Carolina as OIC, 7th Special Forces Special Operations Weather Team andAssistant OIC, XVIII Airborne Corps Weather Team. After completing an AFIT assignment, heproceeded to Headquarters Air Weather Service at Scott AFB, Illinois, where he worked in theSpecial Projects Directorate. He then went to Ramstein AB, Germany, where he served asCommander, Detachment 2, 31st Weather Squadron and as the Technical Operations Officer at the86th Weather Squadron. Major Coble has completed Squadron Officers School and Air Commandand Staff College in residence. He has a bachelor’s degree in Meteorology from North Carolina StateUniversity and a master’s degree in Meteorology from Utah State University. In July 1996, MajorCoble was assigned to HQ USAF as Chief, Weather and Navigation Systems Requirements.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I must first recognize Colonel John A. Warden III, USAF (ret.), for challenging me to prove why aweather officer should attend SAAS in the first place. His challenge has led directly to this report.Colonel Tamzy House, USAF, provided the technical review for this paper and gave me severalvaluable insights as to the controversy surrounding this subject. Her objectivity and encouragementwere greatly appreciated. Thanks again, ma’am, for showing the way to excellence.In addition, I want to thank the numerous members of Air Weather Service and weather supportpersonnel worldwide. Many of their opinions while discussing this contentious topic helped mythoughts come together in writing this paper.Finally, I would be remiss if I did not express my heartfelt love and appreciation to my wife, Andrea,and my daughters, Misha and Piper. Their patience while I locked myself in my office on a nightlybasis working on this paper was greatly appreciated. Now I can go back to reading Dr. Seuss books toyou on a more regular basis, kids.
ABSTRACT
Weather modification is a technology once embraced by the U.S. military as a tool to help bothwartime and peacetime missions. However, interest in the ability to modify weather has waned overrecent years and is now nearly non-existent.This study examines one aspect of weather modification, benign weather modification, for possibleuse in assisting military operations. After briefly reviewing the history and science of weathermodification, this study bounds the aspects of weather modification being addressed. The study thendescribes barriers to benign weather modification (BWM), showing how they affect current weathermodification policy in the military. Then examples are shown of current civilian BWM techniques,their possible use by the military, and some military-unique needs for weather modification.
 
After examining current weather modification and projected future BWM technology, this studyconcludes that military BWM use deserves another look. Increased reliance on precision guidedmunitions makes BWM a possible new tool in ensuring accurate targeting with minimal collateraldamage. In addition, BWM offers the warplanner a means to dictate battlespace elements at a criticalpoint in a conflict. At a minimum, the U.S. military should conduct a more in-depth review of weather modification to see if technological advances offer opportunities for more "bang for thebuck."
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
DISCLAIMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiABOUT THE AUTHOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ivABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 AN OVERVIEW OF WEATHER MODIFICATION . . . 103 BARRIERS TO WEATHER MODIFICATION . . . . . . . 204 MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF WEATHERMODIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . 46BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Chapter 1
Introduction
 Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
Mark Twain
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