Ecological Effects of Weather Modification: A Problem Analysis.

This publication reviews the potential hazards to the environment of weather modification techniques as they eventually become capable of producing large scale weather pattern modifications. Such weather modifications could result in ecological changes which would generally require several years to be fully evident, including the alteration of plant and animal communities by shifts in reproduction rates, growth, and mortality of weather sensitive species. The report includes sections on anticipated kinds of weather modifications; effects in semiarid climates and in humid climates; pests and diseases; direct effects of seeding agents; biology of lakes and streams; fog, hail, lightning, and hurricane modification; environmental monitoring programs; inferences from ecological theory; recommended research; and recommended pre-modification field surveys. [Not available in hardcopy due to marginal legibility of original document.] (PR)