Numerical studies of dynamics and cloud microphysics of the frontal rainbands

Abstract

A review is given of numerical studies of the dynamics, organization and structure of cloud and precipitation on the mesoscale in various types of atmosphetic fronts. Two- and three-dimensional numerical models were constructed to study the dynamic and microphysical structure of the frontal bands in the winter cloud systems. Numerical investigation of the model equations has been carried out and analyzed for two synoptic situations representing both occluded and warm fronts. A detailed analysis is made of the threedimensional numerical simulation of the evolution of the dynamics and cloud microphysics of three rainbands in an occluded frontal system both in cloud and freecloud atmosphere. For the occluded front, two of the rainbands occurred in the leading portion of the frontal cloud shield and were oriented parallel to the warm front of the system. The third band occurred in the trailing of the cloud shield and had cold frontal orientation. The dynamics, cloud microphysics and precipitation of the band were oscillatory in space and time. The cloudiness may both intensify and weaken the dynamical features in the cloud and in the near-cloud environment depending on the cloud phase. Three rainbands were also found in a warm front in the second case. The highest activity of cloud and precipitation bands was associated with the front's surface.