Comparison of Raindrop Size Distribution Measurements by Collocated Disdrometers

Abstract

Abstract An impact-type Joss–Waldvogel disdrometer (JWD), a two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD), and a laser optical OTT Particle Size and Velocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer (PD) were used to measure the raindrop size distribution (DSD) over a 6-month period in Huntsville, Alabama. Comparisons indicate event rain totals for all three disdrometers that were in reasonable agreement with a reference rain gauge. In a relative sense, hourly composite DSDs revealed that the JWD was more sensitive to small drops (<1 mm), while the PD appeared to severely underestimate small drops less than 0.76 mm in diameter. The JWD and 2DVD measured comparable number concentrations of midsize drops (1–3 mm) and large drops (3–5 mm), while the PD tended to measure relatively higher drop concentrations at sizes larger than 2.44 mm in diameter. This concentration disparity tended to occur when hourly rain rates and drop counts exceeded 2.5 mm h−1 and 400 min−1, respectively. Based on interactions with the PD manufacturer, the partially inhomogeneous laser beam is considered the cause of the PD drop count overestimation. PD drop fall speeds followed the expected terminal fall speed relationship quite well, while the 2DVD occasionally measured slower drops for diameters larger than 2.4 mm, coinciding with events where wind speeds were greater than 4 m s−1. The underestimation of small drops by the PD had a pronounced effect on the intercept and shape of parameters of gamma-fitted DSDs, while the overestimation of midsize and larger drops resulted in higher mean values for PD integral rain parameters.