Assessment of Cloud Responses and Effects of Artificial Precipitation Enhancement Using Doppler Dual-Polarization Radar Observations

The cloud and precipitation response characteristics following artificial precipitation enhancement serve as an essential basis for evaluating rain enhancement effectiveness. Based on cloud seeding operation records, S-band weather radar products, and precipitation data from automatic surface weather stations in Jinan from 2023 to 2025, a comparison area was selected using a similarity metric coefficient. Combined with a rationality analysis of the seeding operations, 107 seeding cases with significant positive effects were identified, and the post-seeding cloud and precipitation response characteristics were investigated. The results reveal marked differences in the capability of various radar products to indicate precipitation response. Vertically integrated liquid water content (VIL) exhibits the highest explanatory power (R2=0.302), followed by reflectivity at the 0 °C (R2=0.204). Specific differential phase (KDP) and −10 °C levels (R0, R−10) outperforms echo top height (ET) and composite reflectivity (CR). Thus, VIL, KDP, and the reflectivity at key temperature levels jointly reveal the connection between post-seeding cloud microphysical characteristics and precipitation response. In addition, a multiple linear regression model integrating CR, ET, VIL, R0, R−10, and KDP was established. This model demonstrates superior indicative capability for weak precipitation cloud systems and can be used to estimate the average 5 min precipitation amount within one hour after seeding.