Abstract
Abstract. Raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics within the complex area of Busan, Republic of Korea (35.12° N, 129.10° E), were studied using a Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) disdrometer over a 4-year period from 24 February 2001 to 24 December 2004. Also, to find the dominant characteristics of polarized radar parameters, which are differential radar reflectivity (Zdr), specific differential phase (Kdp) and specific attenuation (Ah), T-matrix scattering simulation was applied in the present study. To analyze the climatological DSD characteristics in more detail, the entire period of recorded rainfall was divided into 10 categories not only covering different temporal and spatial scales, but also different rainfall types. When only convective rainfall was considered, mean values of mass-weighted mean diameter (Dm) and normalized number concentration (Nw) values for all these categories converged around a maritime cluster, except for rainfall associated with typhoons. The convective rainfall of a typhoon showed much smaller Dm and larger Nw compared with the other rainfall categories. In terms of diurnal DSD variability, we analyzed maritime (continental) precipitation during the daytime (DT) (nighttime, NT), which likely results from sea (land) wind identified through wind direction analysis. These features also appeared in the seasonal diurnal distribution. The DT and NT probability density function (PDF) during the summer was similar to the PDF of the entire study period. However, the DT and NT PDF during the winter season displayed an inverse distribution due to seasonal differences in wind direction.
Highlights
Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is controlled by the microphysical processes of rainfall, and it plays an important role in development of the quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) algorithms based on forward scattering simulations of radar measurements (Seliga and Bringi, 1976)
The probability density function (PDF) of stratiform rainfall is more similar to that of the data set for the entire analysis period due to the dominant contribution of stratiform rainfall to the overall rainfall than that of convective rainfall
Climatological characteristics of DSDs in Busan were analyzed using the DSD data observed by Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) over a 4-year period from 24 February 2001 to 24 December 2004
Summary
Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is controlled by the microphysical processes of rainfall, and it plays an important role in development of the quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) algorithms based on forward scattering simulations of radar measurements (Seliga and Bringi, 1976). In the case of stratiform rainfall, raindrops grow by the accretion mechanism because of the relatively long residence time in weak updraft condition, in which almost all water droplets are changed to ice particles. The raindrop size of stratiform rainfall observed at the ground level is larger than that of convective rainfall for a same rainfall intensity due to the resistance of the ice particles to break-up mechanisms. Specific heat is a major climatological feature that creates differences between DSDs in maritime and continental regions These two regions have different thermal capacities, and different temperature variations have occurred with time. 3 we report the results of DSD analysis with respect to stratiform/convective and continental/maritime rainfall, and discuss diurnal variations.
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