A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements
Millimeter wave cloud radar (MMCR) is one of the primary instruments employed to observe cloud−precipitation. With appropriate data processing, measurements of the Doppler spectra, spectral moments, and retrievals can be used to study the physical processes of cloud−precipitation...
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1810 |
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| author | Jiafeng Zheng Peiwen Zhang Liping Liu Yanxia Liu Yuzhang Che |
| author_facet | Jiafeng Zheng Peiwen Zhang Liping Liu Yanxia Liu Yuzhang Che |
| author_sort | Jiafeng Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Millimeter wave cloud radar (MMCR) is one of the primary instruments employed to observe cloud−precipitation. With appropriate data processing, measurements of the Doppler spectra, spectral moments, and retrievals can be used to study the physical processes of cloud−precipitation. This study mainly analyzed the vertical structures and microphysical characteristics of different kinds of convective cloud−precipitation in South China during the pre-flood season using a vertical pointing Ka-band MMCR. Four kinds of convection, namely, multi-cell, isolated-cell, convective−stratiform mixed, and warm-cell convection, are discussed herein. The results show that the multi-cell and convective−stratiform mixed convections had similar vertical structures, and experienced nearly the same microphysical processes in terms of particle phase change, particle size distribution, hydrometeor growth, and breaking. A forward pattern was proposed to specifically characterize the vertical structure and provide radar spectra models reflecting the different microphysical and dynamic features and variations in different parts of the cloud body. Vertical air motion played key roles in the microphysical processes of the isolated- and warm-cell convections, and deeply affected the ground rainfall properties. Stronger, thicker, and slanted updrafts caused heavier showers with stronger rain rates and groups of larger raindrops. The microphysical parameters for the warm-cell cloud−precipitation were retrieved from the radar data and further compared with the ground-measured results from a disdrometer. The comparisons indicated that the radar retrievals were basically reliable; however, the radar signal weakening caused biases to some extent, especially for the particle number concentration. Note that the differences in sensitivity and detectable height of the two instruments also contributed to the compared deviation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:57:21Z |
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| id | doaj.art-9d10db0bfe1a43beb6ff37c880184bbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:57:21Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d10db0bfe1a43beb6ff37c880184bbd2022-12-21T19:41:37ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922019-08-011115181010.3390/rs11151810rs11151810A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar MeasurementsJiafeng Zheng0Peiwen Zhang1Liping Liu2Yanxia Liu3Yuzhang Che4Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, ChinaPlateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, ChinaState Key Lab of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081, ChinaPlateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, ChinaPlateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, ChinaMillimeter wave cloud radar (MMCR) is one of the primary instruments employed to observe cloud−precipitation. With appropriate data processing, measurements of the Doppler spectra, spectral moments, and retrievals can be used to study the physical processes of cloud−precipitation. This study mainly analyzed the vertical structures and microphysical characteristics of different kinds of convective cloud−precipitation in South China during the pre-flood season using a vertical pointing Ka-band MMCR. Four kinds of convection, namely, multi-cell, isolated-cell, convective−stratiform mixed, and warm-cell convection, are discussed herein. The results show that the multi-cell and convective−stratiform mixed convections had similar vertical structures, and experienced nearly the same microphysical processes in terms of particle phase change, particle size distribution, hydrometeor growth, and breaking. A forward pattern was proposed to specifically characterize the vertical structure and provide radar spectra models reflecting the different microphysical and dynamic features and variations in different parts of the cloud body. Vertical air motion played key roles in the microphysical processes of the isolated- and warm-cell convections, and deeply affected the ground rainfall properties. Stronger, thicker, and slanted updrafts caused heavier showers with stronger rain rates and groups of larger raindrops. The microphysical parameters for the warm-cell cloud−precipitation were retrieved from the radar data and further compared with the ground-measured results from a disdrometer. The comparisons indicated that the radar retrievals were basically reliable; however, the radar signal weakening caused biases to some extent, especially for the particle number concentration. Note that the differences in sensitivity and detectable height of the two instruments also contributed to the compared deviation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1810Ka-band millimeter wave radarcloud–precipitationvertical structuremicrophysical characteristic |
| spellingShingle | Jiafeng Zheng Peiwen Zhang Liping Liu Yanxia Liu Yuzhang Che A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements Remote Sensing Ka-band millimeter wave radar cloud–precipitation vertical structure microphysical characteristic |
| title | A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements |
| title_full | A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements |
| title_fullStr | A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements |
| title_short | A Study of Vertical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Different Convective Cloud–Precipitation Types Using Ka-Band Millimeter Wave Radar Measurements |
| title_sort | study of vertical structures and microphysical characteristics of different convective cloud precipitation types using ka band millimeter wave radar measurements |
| topic | Ka-band millimeter wave radar cloud–precipitation vertical structure microphysical characteristic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/11/15/1810 |
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