From drizzle to downpour: investigating the statistical and dynamical properties of raindrop size distributions in the Netherlands using a network of co-located disdrometers and micro-rain radars

The Ruisdael Observatory (https://ruisdael-observatory.nl/) is a network of advanced sensors and high-resolution models aimed at improving the accuracy of climate, weather, and air quality models at the regional scale in the Netherlands. Within Ruisdael, TU Delft oversees a broad network of over 30 sensors, ranging from basic weather stations to cutting-edge disdrometers, radiometers, micro-rain radars, X-band radars, and cloud radars.

In this presentation, we focus on analyzing the statistical and dynamic properties of raindrop size distributions recorded by our network of seven co-located optical disdrometers and micro-rain radars in the Rotterdam-Delft area. Our analysis covers a range of precipitation intensities, from drizzle to heavy convective rain exceeding 140 mm/h. We document some of the most intriguing cases we've encountered during the first three years of operation and perform case studies to understand the temporal variability of raindrop sizes, their moments, scaling properties, and vertical evolution from the melting layer down to the ground. We also investigate whether temperature has any notable influence on the shapes, characteristic sizes, and concentrations of the raindrop size distributions, which is important for understanding future rainfall extremes. 

Finally, we discuss some of our future plans for the observatory, including efforts to improve high-resolution precipitation measurements in the Netherlands. By providing a better understanding of the statistical and dynamic properties of raindrop size distributions, we can enhance our ability to forecast precipitation, mitigate the impacts of heavy rain events, and improve air quality predictions. The Ruisdael Observatory is a crucial component of these efforts and represents a significant step forward in advancing our understanding of atmospheric processes in the Netherlands.