Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM
The statistical characteristics of precipitation microphysics in lightning clouds are not yet fully understood, as a result of the limitations of traditional observational methods. Using the latest observations from the dual-frequency radar and microwave imager onboard the Global Precipitation Missi...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/23/6072 |
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| author | Fengjiao Chen Mingjian Zeng Lu Yu Xiaoyong Zhuge Hao Huang |
| author_facet | Fengjiao Chen Mingjian Zeng Lu Yu Xiaoyong Zhuge Hao Huang |
| author_sort | Fengjiao Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The statistical characteristics of precipitation microphysics in lightning clouds are not yet fully understood, as a result of the limitations of traditional observational methods. Using the latest observations from the dual-frequency radar and microwave imager onboard the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) and ground-based lightning observations, the precipitation microphysics of precipitation features with and without lightning (LPFs and NLPFs) was investigated across four typical regions of China in summer during the time period of 2014–2021. The statistical results show that the LPFs are characterized by smaller concentration and larger mass-weighted mean diameter (<i>D</i><sub>m</sub>) for rain and ice hydrometeors than those of NLPFs. Below the melting layer, the radar reflectivity (<i>Z</i><sub>e</sub>) for both the LPFs and NLPFs generally decreases toward the surface, indicating the evaporation or strong break-up of rain hydrometeors. Above the melting layer, the <i>Z</i><sub>e</sub> values mainly increase as the altitudes decrease for both LPFs and NLPFs, indicating the rimming, aggregation, or deposition processes. However, the change in slope is much smaller for the LPFs than for the NLPFs, which suggests a more uniform distribution of large ice hydrometeors at high altitudes, probably as a result of the stronger updrafts within the LPFs. The microphysical structures of the LPFs show great regional differences among the four regions of China, which is characterized by the low concentration of large-sized rain hydrometeors over Northeast China, and a high concentration of small-sized rain hydrometeors near the surface over the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:33:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-0fc43a64549342fcb2ee1ceafeb1f1f72023-11-24T12:05:18ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-11-011423607210.3390/rs14236072Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPMFengjiao Chen0Mingjian Zeng1Lu Yu2Xiaoyong Zhuge3Hao Huang4Key Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing 210041, ChinaKey Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing 210041, ChinaKey Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing 210041, ChinaKey Laboratory of Transportation Meteorology of China Meteorological Administration, Nanjing Joint Institute for Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing 210041, ChinaKey Laboratory of Mesoscale Severe Weather/MOE and School of Atmospheric Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaThe statistical characteristics of precipitation microphysics in lightning clouds are not yet fully understood, as a result of the limitations of traditional observational methods. Using the latest observations from the dual-frequency radar and microwave imager onboard the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) and ground-based lightning observations, the precipitation microphysics of precipitation features with and without lightning (LPFs and NLPFs) was investigated across four typical regions of China in summer during the time period of 2014–2021. The statistical results show that the LPFs are characterized by smaller concentration and larger mass-weighted mean diameter (<i>D</i><sub>m</sub>) for rain and ice hydrometeors than those of NLPFs. Below the melting layer, the radar reflectivity (<i>Z</i><sub>e</sub>) for both the LPFs and NLPFs generally decreases toward the surface, indicating the evaporation or strong break-up of rain hydrometeors. Above the melting layer, the <i>Z</i><sub>e</sub> values mainly increase as the altitudes decrease for both LPFs and NLPFs, indicating the rimming, aggregation, or deposition processes. However, the change in slope is much smaller for the LPFs than for the NLPFs, which suggests a more uniform distribution of large ice hydrometeors at high altitudes, probably as a result of the stronger updrafts within the LPFs. The microphysical structures of the LPFs show great regional differences among the four regions of China, which is characterized by the low concentration of large-sized rain hydrometeors over Northeast China, and a high concentration of small-sized rain hydrometeors near the surface over the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/23/6072GPMprecipitation featureslightningmicrophysics |
| spellingShingle | Fengjiao Chen Mingjian Zeng Lu Yu Xiaoyong Zhuge Hao Huang Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM Remote Sensing GPM precipitation features lightning microphysics |
| title | Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM |
| title_full | Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM |
| title_fullStr | Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM |
| title_short | Regional Variability in Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Features with Lightning across China: Observations from GPM |
| title_sort | regional variability in microphysical characteristics of precipitation features with lightning across china observations from gpm |
| topic | GPM precipitation features lightning microphysics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/23/6072 |
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