Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China
An extremely heavy rainfall event hit Guangdong province, China, from 27 August to 1 September 2018. There were two different extreme rain regions, respectively, at the Pearl River estuary and eastern Guangdong, and a record-breaking daily precipitation of 1056.7 mm was observed at Gaotan station on...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/17/2772 |
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| author | Yu Ma Haonan Chen Guangheng Ni V. Chandrasekar Yabin Gou Wenjuan Zhang |
| author_facet | Yu Ma Haonan Chen Guangheng Ni V. Chandrasekar Yabin Gou Wenjuan Zhang |
| author_sort | Yu Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An extremely heavy rainfall event hit Guangdong province, China, from 27 August to 1 September 2018. There were two different extreme rain regions, respectively, at the Pearl River estuary and eastern Guangdong, and a record-breaking daily precipitation of 1056.7 mm was observed at Gaotan station on 30 August. This paper utilizes a suite of observations from soundings, a gauge network, disdrometers, and polarimetric radars to gain insights to the two rainfall centers. The large-scale meteorological forcing, rainfall patterns, and microphysical processes, as well as radar-based precipitation signatures are investigated. It is concluded that a west-moving monsoon depression played a critical role in sustaining the moisture supply to the two extreme rain regions, and the combined orographic enhancement further contributed to the torrential rainfall over Gaotan station. The raindrop size distributions (DSD) observed at Zhuhai and Huidong stations, as well as the observed polarimetric radar signatures indicate that the rainfall at Doumen region was characterized by larger raindrops but a lower number concentration compared with that at Gaotan region. In addition, the dual-polarization radars are used to quantify precipitation intensity during this extreme event, providing timely information for flood warning and emergency management decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:47:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61af938cb17248d6b9ee900ffd92646f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:47:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-61af938cb17248d6b9ee900ffd92646f2023-11-20T11:26:40ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-08-011217277210.3390/rs12172772Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern ChinaYu Ma0Haonan Chen1Guangheng Ni2V. Chandrasekar3Yabin Gou4Wenjuan Zhang5Department of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaElectrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Hydraulic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaElectrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAHangzhou Meteorological Bureau, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaAn extremely heavy rainfall event hit Guangdong province, China, from 27 August to 1 September 2018. There were two different extreme rain regions, respectively, at the Pearl River estuary and eastern Guangdong, and a record-breaking daily precipitation of 1056.7 mm was observed at Gaotan station on 30 August. This paper utilizes a suite of observations from soundings, a gauge network, disdrometers, and polarimetric radars to gain insights to the two rainfall centers. The large-scale meteorological forcing, rainfall patterns, and microphysical processes, as well as radar-based precipitation signatures are investigated. It is concluded that a west-moving monsoon depression played a critical role in sustaining the moisture supply to the two extreme rain regions, and the combined orographic enhancement further contributed to the torrential rainfall over Gaotan station. The raindrop size distributions (DSD) observed at Zhuhai and Huidong stations, as well as the observed polarimetric radar signatures indicate that the rainfall at Doumen region was characterized by larger raindrops but a lower number concentration compared with that at Gaotan region. In addition, the dual-polarization radars are used to quantify precipitation intensity during this extreme event, providing timely information for flood warning and emergency management decision-making.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/17/2772extreme rainfallpolarimetric radar signaturesquantitative precipitation estimationsouthern china |
| spellingShingle | Yu Ma Haonan Chen Guangheng Ni V. Chandrasekar Yabin Gou Wenjuan Zhang Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China Remote Sensing extreme rainfall polarimetric radar signatures quantitative precipitation estimation southern china |
| title | Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China |
| title_full | Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China |
| title_fullStr | Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China |
| title_short | Microphysical and Polarimetric Radar Signatures of an Epic Flood Event in Southern China |
| title_sort | microphysical and polarimetric radar signatures of an epic flood event in southern china |
| topic | extreme rainfall polarimetric radar signatures quantitative precipitation estimation southern china |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/17/2772 |
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