Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau
The impact of unique terrain on the microphysics of nighttime precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has not been fully appreciated, due to a lack of observation. In this study, we used three raindrop spectrometers deployed in the northeastern TP to analyze the characteristics of the raindrop spe...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/41 |
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| author | Yuxin Zhang Huibang Han Boyue Zhang Yonghui Hou |
| author_facet | Yuxin Zhang Huibang Han Boyue Zhang Yonghui Hou |
| author_sort | Yuxin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The impact of unique terrain on the microphysics of nighttime precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has not been fully appreciated, due to a lack of observation. In this study, we used three raindrop spectrometers deployed in the northeastern TP to analyze the characteristics of the raindrop spectrum during two types of summer precipitation. These two types are classified according to their occurrence times: one starting in the daytime and lasting into the night (DP), while the other started at night and continuing into the daytime (NP). The results show that precipitation with a rain rate ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mm h<sup>−1</sup> contributes the most to the total precipitation, with this contribution rate being higher in the NP than in the DP. All the raindrop spectra follow a single-peak distribution pattern, and the logarithm of the generalized intercept parameter (lg<i>N<sub>w</sub></i>) rises with the rain rate. The spectral widths of the DP-n (the nighttime part of the DP) are broader than those of the DP-d (the daytime part of the DP). Moreover, the average <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><msub><mrow><mi>N</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>w</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and mass-weighted mean diameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) over the northeastern TP were 2.65 mm<sup>−1</sup> mm<sup>−3</sup> and 1.04 mm, respectively, both of which are smaller than their equivalents in the plains. In addition, the gamma distribution can better fit the raindrop size distributions of the two types of precipitation. It is found that precipitation is more likely to occur over the TP at night. The characteristics of NP are reflected in two aspects. First, the sample size of the precipitation at the rain rate of 1.0–5.0 mm h<sup>−1</sup> is higher in the NP-n (the nighttime part of the NP), and the precipitation at this rain rate contributes the most to the total precipitation. Second, for the same rain rate, the precipitation particles in the NP-n are larger. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:06:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98801d7e6ad94d98bf75d4c9031c22e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:06:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-98801d7e6ad94d98bf75d4c9031c22e32024-01-26T15:01:46ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-12-011514110.3390/atmos15010041Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan PlateauYuxin Zhang0Huibang Han1Boyue Zhang2Yonghui Hou3Meteorological Disaster Prevention Technology Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, ChinaMeteorological Disaster Prevention Technology Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, ChinaMeteorological Disaster Prevention Technology Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, ChinaMeteorological Disaster Prevention Technology Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, ChinaThe impact of unique terrain on the microphysics of nighttime precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has not been fully appreciated, due to a lack of observation. In this study, we used three raindrop spectrometers deployed in the northeastern TP to analyze the characteristics of the raindrop spectrum during two types of summer precipitation. These two types are classified according to their occurrence times: one starting in the daytime and lasting into the night (DP), while the other started at night and continuing into the daytime (NP). The results show that precipitation with a rain rate ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mm h<sup>−1</sup> contributes the most to the total precipitation, with this contribution rate being higher in the NP than in the DP. All the raindrop spectra follow a single-peak distribution pattern, and the logarithm of the generalized intercept parameter (lg<i>N<sub>w</sub></i>) rises with the rain rate. The spectral widths of the DP-n (the nighttime part of the DP) are broader than those of the DP-d (the daytime part of the DP). Moreover, the average <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><msub><mrow><mi>N</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>w</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and mass-weighted mean diameter (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>D</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) over the northeastern TP were 2.65 mm<sup>−1</sup> mm<sup>−3</sup> and 1.04 mm, respectively, both of which are smaller than their equivalents in the plains. In addition, the gamma distribution can better fit the raindrop size distributions of the two types of precipitation. It is found that precipitation is more likely to occur over the TP at night. The characteristics of NP are reflected in two aspects. First, the sample size of the precipitation at the rain rate of 1.0–5.0 mm h<sup>−1</sup> is higher in the NP-n (the nighttime part of the NP), and the precipitation at this rain rate contributes the most to the total precipitation. Second, for the same rain rate, the precipitation particles in the NP-n are larger.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/41raindrop size distributionprecipitation microphysicsTibetan Plateaunighttime precipitation |
| spellingShingle | Yuxin Zhang Huibang Han Boyue Zhang Yonghui Hou Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau Atmosphere raindrop size distribution precipitation microphysics Tibetan Plateau nighttime precipitation |
| title | Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full | Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |
| title_short | Influences of Summer Precipitation Occurrence Time on Raindrop Spectrum Characteristics over the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau |
| title_sort | influences of summer precipitation occurrence time on raindrop spectrum characteristics over the northeastern tibetan plateau |
| topic | raindrop size distribution precipitation microphysics Tibetan Plateau nighttime precipitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/1/41 |
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