A study of raindrop size distribution during stratiform rain and development of its parameterization scheme in the framework of multi‐parameter observations

Sarma, Anal Chandra; Deshamukhya, Atri; Rao, T. Narayana; Sharma, Sanjeev

doi:10.1002/met.1551

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In the stratiform rain, the growth of ice crystals is dominated by vapor diffusion above the melting layer. When these ice crystals drift downward, near the melting layer, the ice crystals grow by aggregation and riming (Houze, ; Sarma et al, ; Waldvogel et al, ). When these particles melt below the melting layer, they produce large raindrops, which results in a decrease of the DSD intercept parameter N 0.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of Observed Electrical Effect on the Raindrop Size Distribution in Tropical Clouds

et al. 2018

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In the backdrop of extensive laboratory and theoretical evidence of broadening of the drop size distribution (DSD) of raindrops in the presence of electric field, quantification of the same in observed tropical clouds is lacking. Here this is quantified using the DSD measured by a microrain radar at 2,400‐, 1,200‐, and 600‐m heights from the surface in six strongly electrified and six weakly electrified stratiform rain events together with the DSD of raindrops at the surface measured by a disdrometer for the same cases. The presence/absence of lightning is used to distinguish between strongly and weakly electrified events. The vertical profile of Median Volume Diameter below the melting layer and DSDs at all three heights for strongly electrified events and weakly electrified events are significantly different from each other, consistent with previous laboratory and numerical studies (Rayleigh, 1879; Davis, 1964; Moore et al., 1964, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1964)021<0646:GORAMA>2.0.CO;2). Our results indicate that the electric field and surface charge of raindrops can affect the collision‐coalescence process and breakup characteristics of raindrops. Our study suggests that the parameterization of electrical processes in weather/climate models can possibly improve the simulation of tropical rainfall in numerical models as well as a proper representation of DSD will improve the estimation of tropical rainfall in airborne measurements.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of Observed Electrical Effect on the Raindrop Size Distribution in Tropical Clouds

et al. 2018

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“…Investigations on DSD are increasing over different climatic regimes. The DSD variability at a daily scale (Kozu et al ., 2006; Murali Krishna et al ., 2021), seasonal evolution (Thompson et al ., 2015; Krishna et al ., 2016; Das et al ., 2017; Dolan et al ., 2018; Seela et al ., 2018), different precipitation categories (Bringi et al ., 2003; Roy et al ., 2005; Kirankumar et al ., 2008; Sharma et al ., 2009; Niu et al ., 2010; Chen et al ., 2013; Das et al ., 2015; Sarma et al ., 2016; Wen et al ., 2016), and different climatic regimes (Radhakrishna et al ., 2009; Harikumar 2016; Dolan et al ., 2018) can be found in the literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of rain microphysics on the leeside of the Western Ghats

Krishna

Das

Kolte

et al. 2023

Quart J Royal Meteoro Soc

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This study evaluates the performance of four impact‐type disdrometers installed at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, located on the leeside of the Western Ghats (WG). Further, seasonal variation of rain microphysical properties is studied during pre‐monsoon (March–May), monsoon (June–September), post‐monsoon (October–November), and winter (December–February). The four disdrometers exhibit comparable raindrop‐size distribution (DSD) patterns, though negligible differences are found at smaller drop diameters. The DSD shows higher concentrations of smaller (large‐size) drops during monsoon (pre‐monsoon and post‐monsoon). Principal component analysis revealed three distinct modes of DSD characteristics. Monsoon DSDs are associated with a group of numerous smaller drops allied with shallow storm heights (warm rain). The pre‐monsoon and post‐monsoon DSDs are clustered in a group where ice‐based processes dominate, resulting in higher median drop diameters (D0) and smaller normalized intercept parameters (Nw). The fitted gamma DSD model indicates higher mass‐weighted mean diameter (Dm) during pre‐monsoon, and higher intercept parameter during monsoon, whereas post‐monsoon and winter have intermediate values. DSD stratified with rain rate shows that the Dm values increase with an increase in rain rate during winter, monsoon and post‐monsoon, whereas in pre‐monsoon, Dm increases initially and then decreases. Higher Dm and lower Nw are observed during convective rain in all seasons. The fitted slope (λ)‐shape (μ) parameter relationships show a considerable seasonal variation. The DSD on the WG leeside is notably different from the windward slopes and other WG locations. Different microphysical and dynamical mechanisms lead to seasonal differences in DSD characteristics. In monsoon, a considerable volume of water vapour advected from the Arabian Sea promotes the formation of raindrops through collision‐coalescence processes, which may result in a higher proportion of smaller and mid‐sized raindrops. The deeper clouds during pre‐monsoon and post‐monsoon indicate mixed‐phase processes, which leads to mid‐ and large‐sized raindrops.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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“…Riming is an important snow growth process and has an impact on the physical properties of ice particles (Barthazy & Schefold, 2006; Erfani & Mitchell, 2016; Grazioli et al., 2015; Li et al., 2018; Moisseev et al., 2017). Riming can also impact the microphysical properties of the melting layer (Li & Moisseev, 2020; Li et al., 2020; Mroz et al., 2020) and rainfall below the melting layer (Lin et al., 2020; Sarma et al., 2016). Furthermore, riming is affected by anthropogenic aerosols (Borys et al., 2003; Jackson et al., 2012), which is also supported by the ECHAM4 general circulation model simulations (Lohmann, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Effect of Riming on Snow Microphysics: The First Observational Study in East China

et al. 2021

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Through the collision and freezing of supercooled droplets on the surface of snow particles, riming can change the density, fall velocity and aspect ratio of snow particles. Riming plays an important role in the formation of precipitation in cold clouds. To our knowledge, the impact of riming on snow microphysics is yet well understood, and there is a lack of observations obtained in China addressing this issue. For the first time in East China, the connection between riming and snow microphysical properties was investigated quantitatively during snow events in two winters. To quantify the degree of riming, the rime mass fraction (FR) is derived using the combination of a 2‐D video disdrometer (2DVD) and a weighing gauge. FR is added to the density‐diameter and fall velocity‐diameter relations, and a quantitative relation between riming and shapes of snowflakes is established based on the in situ observation of the 2DVD. The results show that riming can well explain the variability in the density and fall velocity of snowflakes. The changes in the shape of snowflakes can be divided into two distinct stages with increasing riming: in the initial stage (FR < 0.5), the aspect ratio increases very slowly, while in the later stage (FR > 0.5), the aspect ratio increases rapidly. Direct observations of the continuous changes in the shapes of snowflakes with riming are in good agreement with the retrieval results of radar.

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A study of raindrop size distribution during stratiform rain and development of its parameterization scheme in the framework of multi‐parameter observations

Cited by 8 publications

References 54 publications

Quantification of Observed Electrical Effect on the Raindrop Size Distribution in Tropical Clouds

Quantification of Observed Electrical Effect on the Raindrop Size Distribution in Tropical Clouds

Characterization of rain microphysics on the leeside of the Western Ghats

Assessing the Effect of Riming on Snow Microphysics: The First Observational Study in East China

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