Perisher Credits Cloud Seeding For 14 Percent More Snow (18-Jul-11)

Australia is enjoying its snowiest start to the season for decades...

Australia is enjoying its snowiest start to the season for decades and at the country’s largest ski area, Perisher, the official snow depth measured by Snowy Hydro at Spencer's Creek is now at 158.9cm, the highest it's been at this time of the season since 1990.

Although all Australian resorts are also doing well for snow, Perisher is crediting the regional
investment in cloud seeding for making the snow cover even better than it would have been
anyway, they believe.

“The Snowy Hydro cloud seeding project in the Snowy Mountains has been shown to deliver a
14% increase in snowfalls during the winter season without any significant adverse environmental impacts. This is an outstanding result for skiers, snowboarders and the environment.” Said a statement from the resort.

Cloud seeding is currently operating under trial conditions (where less than half of all of cold fronts are cloud seeded). The technology involves firing microscopic particles in to the air to ‘induce’ snowfall from passing cloud fronts that might otherwise pass over depositing no snow, or at best, less snow, those who support the technology believe.

“Perisher supports Snowy Hydro's goal to transition from a trial to a permanent full time operation during the winter months so skiers and snowboarders can enjoy more snow!” the Perisher statement continues.

Other areas around the world that use cloud seeding include Vail in Colorado.