Abstract
This study calculated the augmentation of water resources that can be achieved through precipitation enhancement and the ensuing economic benefits by conducting precipitation enhancement experiments using atmospheric aircraft in the catchment areas of 21 multipurpose dams in Korea. The maximum number of precipitation enhancement experiments to be carried out was estimated based on the frequency of occurrence of seedable clouds near each dam, using geostationary satellite data. The maximum quantity of water that can be obtained was calculated considering the mean precipitation enhancement and probability of success, as determined from the results of experiments conducted in South Korea during 2018–2019. The effective area of seeding was assumed 300 km2. In addition, the amount of hydroelectric power generation possible was determined from the quantity of water thus calculated. In conclusion, it was established that an approximate increase of 12.89 million m3 (90% confidence interval: 7.83–17.95 million m3) of water, and 4.79 (2.91–6.68) million kWh of electric power generation will be possible through approximately 96 precipitation enhancement operations in a year at the catchment area of Seomjin River (SJ) dam which has a high frequency of occurrence of seedable clouds, a large drainage area, and a high net head. An economic benefit of approximately 1.01 (0.61–1.40) million USD can be anticipated, the benefit/cost ratio being 1.46 (0.89–2.04).
Highlights
Water on Earth is comprised of water vapor, liquid water, and solid ice, which circulate the atmosphere, land, and ocean through mutual and continuous phase changes [1]
A total of 1.28 times more experiments may be conducted on mean in areas around dams (SY, AD, CG, IH, HS, GW, Bohyeon Mountain (BH), SD, and YG) located near the Taebaek
Mountains compared to the mean number of experiments (6.57 times) in other areas, due to the occurrence of orographic clouds resulting from the topographic effect [35,81,82]
Summary
Water on Earth is comprised of water vapor, liquid water, and solid ice, which circulate the atmosphere, land, and ocean through mutual and continuous phase changes [1]. In the case of countries such as South Korea that consist of mostly mountainous regions and have topographic characteristics that are advantageous for dam construction, the most effective way to secure water resources is to construct dams. South Korea depends on dams for 56% of national water use, followed by 33% from stream water, and 11% from groundwater [36]. This study calculated the quantity of water and evaluated economic benefits that accrue in a year from each dam by conducting cloud seeding experiments on seedable clouds detected by geostationary satellite in dam catchments, as a method to secure water resources in South Korea.
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