EGU2020-1657
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1657
EGU General Assembly 2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Investigation of Hydrometeors Using a C-band Poloarimetric Radar and In-situ Measurements during IMFRE in Central China

Bin Wang1, Xiquan Dong2, Zhikang Fu1, and Lingli Zhou1
Bin Wang et al.
  • 1Institute of Heavy Rain, China Meteorological Administration, Wuhan, China (polarainice@foxmail.com)
  • 2Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA (xdong@email.arizona.edu)

This study uses C-band polarimetric radar (C-POL) measurements to classify the hydrometeors and retrieve rain drop size distributions (DSDs) during the IMFRE (Investigative Monsoon Frontal Rainfall Experiment) field campaign in central China.  Three types of precipitation in a Meiyu frontal heavy rainfall case are classified to further investigate the microphysical characteristics and processes based on C-POL observations and classified hydrometeors. When raindrops fall from the freezing level, collision–coalescence plays an equally important role as break-up and/or evaporation in stratiform regions, but is the dominant process for convective-related precipitation and is an attribute of intensive precipitation. There are more supercooled liquid water droplets above the freezing level in convective cores due to strong updrafts, which can bring more cloud droplets into the upper levels to help the formation of graupel and hail. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first time that C-POL-classified hydrometeors and rain-parameter retrievals have been validated against in-situ aircraft and surface disdrometer measurements over the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Valley in central China, which will pave the way for future studies related to Meiyu frontal rainfall systems.

How to cite: Wang, B., Dong, X., Fu, Z., and Zhou, L.: Investigation of Hydrometeors Using a C-band Poloarimetric Radar and In-situ Measurements during IMFRE in Central China, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-1657, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1657, 2019