The National Hail Research Experiment (NHRE) is a cooperative fiveyear research project (FY 1972 to FY 1976), endorsed by the Interdepartmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences (ICAS), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Two major objectives have been identified for NHRE: (1) to gain an increased understanding, by observation and analysis, of the cloud dynamics and microphysics governing the severe convective storms that produce damaging hailfall, and (2) equipped with this increased knowledge, to develop, if possible, a practicable method for suppressing the occurrence of damaging hail. The summer of 1972 has been designated by the NSF as the first season of full-scale field operation, and the field program in 1971 was designed to test, from 1 June to 1 August, such new systems and procedures as were available and intended for use in the following years. This report is intended to review the progress made in these tests and to highlight the scientific accomplishments. A calendar of events, listing all the data gathered on each operational day has been published.
