Disdrometer

About: Disdrometer is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 930 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23092 citations.

Distribution of Graupel and Hail With Size

Abstract: Observations have been made on the size and concentration of graupel and hail occurring in untreated convective cloud systems over the High Plains of the United States. From these data, an average graupel and hail distribution has been generated. The comparison of this .,ize spectrum with data from other studies, along with the implications to hail detection and hail suppression, is also discussed.

Evolution of microphysical structure of a subtropical squall line observed by a polarimetric radar and a disdrometer during OPACC in Eastern China

Abstract: The evolution of the microphysical structures of a subtropical squall line observed during the Observation, Prediction and Analysis of Severe Convection of China (OPACC) field campaign in Eastern China is documented in this paper. The data collected from a C-band, polarimetric Doppler radar (reflectivity Z, differential reflectivity ZDR, and specific differential phase KDP) and a disdrometer are used to investigate the variations of microphysical characteristics within the convective region during the formative, intensifying, and mature stages of the squall line. The microphysical characteristics of the squall line are noticeably different among these three stages. When the squall line develops from the formative stage to the mature stage, its radar-derived drop-size distribution (DSD) in the convective region evolves from continental-like convection to more maritime-like convection. Contrary to previous studies, the DSD characteristics of a convective line may not be simply locked to a geographical location but varied extensively throughout its life cycle. The polarimetric radar derived liquid water content below the freezing level in the convective region is three times higher than the ice water content above the freezing level. This, in conjunction with a low cloud base (~0.68 km) and a high freezing level (~5 km), indicates a deep warm cloud layer and the dominance of the warm rain process within this squall line.

Raindrop Size Distributions and Rain Characteristics Observed by a PARSIVEL Disdrometer in Beijing, Northern China

Abstract: Fourteen-month precipitation measurements from a second-generation PARSIVEL disdrometer deployed in Beijing, northern China, were analyzed to investigate the microphysical structure of raindrop size distribution and its implications on polarimetric radar applications. Rainfall types are classified and analyzed in the domain of median volume diameter D 0 and the normalized intercept parameter N w . The separation line between convective and stratiform rain is almost equivalent to rain rate at 8.6 mm h−1 and radar reflectivity at 36.8 dBZ. Convective rain in Beijing shows distinct seasonal variations in log 10 N w – D 0 domain. X-band dual-polarization variables are simulated using the T-matrix method to derive radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) estimators, and rainfall products at hourly scale are evaluated for four radar QPE estimators using collocated but independent rain gauge observations. This study also combines the advantages of individual estimators based on the thresholds on polarimetric variables. Results show that the blended QPE estimator has better performance than others. The rainfall microphysical analysis presented in this study is expected to facilitate the development of a high-resolution X-band radar network for urban QPE applications.

On the shape-slope relation of drop size distributions in convective rain

Abstract: The relation between the slope and shape parameters of the raindrop size distribution parameterized by a gamma distribution is examined. The comparison of results of a simple rain shaft model with an empirical relation based on disdrometer measurements at the surface shows very good agreement, but a more detailed discussion reveals some difficulties—for example, deviations from the gamma shape and the overestimation of collisional breakup.