Hydrometeor classification in convective clouds using cloud profiler data

In this contribution, we investigate hydrometeors and their distribution in thunderclouds. We classify 5 kinds of hydrometeors using data of a Ka-band cloud profiler (35 GHz) situated at the weather station Milešovka in Central Europe. The classification of hydrometeors is based on calculated vertical air velocity, terminal velocity of a target, minimum and maximum terminal velocity of hydrometeor classes, and Linear Depolarization Ratio within three temperature intervals. We performed the classification for convective events that were observed at the station in 2018 and 2019 and were related to lightning in the vicinity of the station.

Results suggest that there is a link between lightning flashes observed close to the weather station (based on EUCLID data) and the presence of graupel, ice, snow, and hail. These are the hydrometeors (graupel and ice in particular) that are considered to play major role in thundercloud electrification by the collision of hydrometeors.