Progress and Outlook of Cloud Chamber Experiments About Cloud Physics and Weather Modification in China
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Abstract:
For more than a century, the cloud chamber, which transitions from the early nuclear radiation and particle track detector, becomes an important device to conduct cloud-precipitation physics and weather modification lab experiments. By simulating and studying the formation and evolution process of clouds, accompanied by the interaction between clouds, aerosols, and precipitation under controlled laboratory conditions, the cloud chamber plays an irreplaceable role in the research field of basic scientific theoretical principles and cloud seeding catalytic technologies. China has been carrying out cloud-precipitation physics and weather modification lab experiments for over 60 years and has achieved many important results and gained valuable experience, including the development of a series of isothermal or mixing cloud chambers and detecting cloud-seeding catalysts, which are widely recognised by peers both domestically and internationally. All the efforts of this review aim to provide a useful reference for conducting cloud chamber experiments at a deeper and higher level, and in a wider field in China by discussing the importance of research and development and construction of related experimental facilities. The review explores the history and application of cloud chambers in China since the late 1950s and early 1960s. By comparing cloud-precipitation physics research based on cloud chamber lab experiments in several advanced countries, including the United States, Europe, and other countries, it comprehensively and systematically summarises for the first time the progress made in cloud chamber experiments on the observation of atmospheric ice nuclei, artificial ice nuclei research, especially the detection of the nucleation rate of cloud-seeding catalysts, research and development of seeding materials and tools, as well as the physical mechanisms and processes in China. But at present, the gap between China’s indoor experiments on cloud-precipitation physics and those in related fields abroad is obvious, and we are in a relatively backward situation in terms of the scope and profundity of experiments carried out, the research, development and construction of specialised and comprehensive cloud chambers, the cloud microphysical mechanisms and processes involved in cloud-aerosol-precipitation interactions and other cloud microphysical mechanisms, interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research, and the application, research and development of experimental apparatus. The experimental background environment purification and the automatic operating controls are also in relatively poor states. China faces critical opportunities and challenges. It points out the necessity and urgency of promoting cloud physics experiments with cloud chambers within our country and highlights the urgent need to pay much attention to improving the development of cloud-precipitation physics experimental equipment and techniques.
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Supported by:Beijing E-Tiller Technology Development Co., Ltd.
Supported by:Beijing E-Tiller Technology Development Co., Ltd.