Project Stormfury Annual Report PDF Download

Project STORMFURY is a joint Department of Commerce (NOAA) - Department of Defense (Navy) program of scientific experiments designed to explore the structure and dynamics of tropical cyclones and their potential for modification. The Project which was formally established in 1962 has as its principal objective experimentation directed towards changing the hurricane's energy exchange by strategic seeding from aircraft with silver iodide crystals. The crystals are dispensed from pyrotechnic devices developed by the U.S. Navy. The hypothesis calls for a measurable decrease in the maximum wind velocities near the center of the storm. Navy and NOAA scientists and aircraft, supplemented by those of the U.S. Air Force, have cooperated in STORMFURY experimental operations since 1962 when the Project began. The 1970 hurricane season produced no tropical cyclones which were eligible for seeding experiments. In spite of this, or perhaps because of it, the 1970 season was undoubtedly the most productive research period for Project STORMFURY to date. (Author).