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Drop size distribution (DSD) over the tropical region exhibit pronounced variations during different monsoon seasons. Measurements from an impact type Joss–Waldovgel disdrometer is used for characterization of drop size distribution and its integral parameters over a tropical coastal station (Thiruvananthapuram, 8.31°N, 76.54°E, 20 m asl). Rain events were identified during the winter, premonsoon, summer monsoon and postmonsoon seasons from 8 years, computed rain duration (min) and accumulated rain water (mm). Rain intensity (mm h−1), mean drop diameter (Dm, mm) and total number concentration of raindrops (NT, m−3) were calculated on each sampling interval and classified in to different bins. The different range bins of rain intensity and their relative contributions towards total rainfall are different for different seasons. Maximum events were reported on the R2 (heavy drizzle/light rain) type, but the contribution of rainfall (mm) is mainly registered on R4 (heavy rain) type. Similarly, the NT and Dm are also showing different characteristics during different monsoon seasons. Frequency of occurrence of Dm is higher in Dm2 (1–2 mm) followed by Dm1 (Dm < 1 mm) and then Dm3 (2–3 mm) with difference in magnitudes for different seasons. On analysing relative rainfall contribution from different mean diameter bins, it can be observed that Dm2 and Dm3 (1–3 mm) are the major contributors to the total rainfall. In the case of NT, both frequency and accumulated water are almost same or comparable for the different bins during all the seasons. The Dm and NT are positively related with different intensity bins. The lower rainfall intensity bins show higher duration during the summer monsoon season and lower duration during the premonsoon season, the higher intensity range bins show lower duration for the premonsoon season and higher duration for the postmonsoon season.

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In the present study, seven-year-long observations of rain microphysical properties are presented using a ground-based disdrometer located at Braemore; a site on the windward slope of the Western Ghats (WG) over the Indian Peninsula. The annual cycle of rainfall shows a bimodal distribution with a primary peak during summer monsoon and secondary peak during pre-monsoon. Pre-monsoon rain events are less in number but are with high intensity and characterize large raindrops and low number concentration. During summer monsoon, short and less intense rain events with small drops are noticed. Post-monsoon rain is having a long duration less intense events with lower concentration of large raindrops compared to the summer monsoon. In the seasonal variation of mean diameter (Dm) and raindrop concentration (NT) with Rain Intensity (RI), winter and pre-monsoon rains exhibit higher values of Dm and lower values of NT compared to the summer and post-monsoon seasons for all the RI ranges. The mean features of the rain microphysical parameters are also supported by the case studies of rain events. RI, Dm and NT are categorized into different range bins for all the seasons to identify their variation and relative rainfall contribution to the total seasonal rainfall. Heavy drizzle/Light rain has maximum rain duration, and the relative contribution to the rainfall is high from heavy rain type. Winter and pre-monsoon rains are mostly contributed from the larger raindrops (>Dm3), and during summer and post-monsoons it is from Dm2 onwards. The distribution of occurrence frequency of NT and rainfall are similar during all four seasons. NT2 recorded rainfall percentage nearly the same as NT1 in summer monsoon and this also supports large number of raindrops in this season. In RI-Duration analysis, all seasons showed similar distribution, and 90% of total duration is contributed from RI with less than 20 mm h−1.

Satellite data and data from the recent studies on spatial and temporal distribution of lightning occurrence have shown that Kerala state in India has relatively more thunderstorm activity. As the Western Ghats are instrumental in formation of thunderclouds, an investigation was carried out at a mountain filed station using a Ceilomter, an electric Filed mill and an Automatic Weather Station (AWS). The data collected show that the existence of strong updrafts followed by the formation of lower level clouds seems to be the characteristics of mountain weather during thunderstorm months. The result answers to a large extent the question regarding the cause for relatively high lightning in Kerala.