Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation Over Eastern China and Its Coastal Regions

Abstract

AbstractMany studies have investigated the macro‐ and micro‐physical properties of precipitation, but few classified precipitation into warm‐ and cold‐topped, which affects precipitation phase and precipitation type significantly. Furthermore, the impact of moisture and dynamics on microphysical characteristics of precipitation has been less studied. Using precipitation data from the GPM 2A DPR between May and September from 2015 to 2023, this study conducts a systematic study on microphysical characteristics of precipitation over eastern China and its coastal areas. This study divides precipitation cases into 20 categories, including warm‐/cold‐topped (CTP/WTP) convective/stratiform light/moderate/heavy/extreme/the most extreme precipitation. The findings reveal distinct differences along with similarities in various precipitation categories between eastern China and its coastal regions. The convection ratio for CTP increases with higher precipitation intensity, while WTP is dominated by convective precipitation. The more CTP, the higher the solid water content. The heavier precipitation, the higher liquid water content contributes. The mass‐weighted diameter (Dm) for CTP shows three variations from high to low with little or slight decrease with altitude at upper‐layer, followed by a rapid increase at middle‐layer and finally decreasing slightly at low‐layer. The CTP Dm grows rapidly with temperature from −18.58 (−13.93)°C for convective (stratiform) precipitation and their maximum growth rate are almost located in melting layer. Dm (raindrop density) is larger (lower) over land than ocean and larger (lower) for CTP than WTP. Dm shows positive relation to vertical velocity and specific humidity, especially sensitive to the middle‐ and upper‐layers meteorological conditions.