Raindrop size distribution and microphysical features of the extremely severe rainstorm on 20 July 2021 in Zhengzhou, China

Abstract

By using the observation data of four DSG5-type disdrometers, four automatic weather stations and two dual-polarization Doppler weather radars, this paper analyzes the characteristics of raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and their integral parameters during the severe precipitation in Henan Province, China, specially focusing on the extremely severe rainstorm on the 20 July 2021 in Zhengzhou City. The results show that: (1) In line with most of the severe precipitation in northern China, the July 2021 extreme precipitation were dominated by small raindrops, but medium-sized raindrops with diameter D in 2–4 mm contributed 61.28% to the rain rate R during the time period of extremely severe rainfall at Zhengzhou (ZZ) station, and the raindrops with D > 4 mm contributed 53.74% to the radar reflectivity factor Z. (2) Quantitative evaluation of the gamma model of DSD for different values of R is carried out, and the fitting effect of the gamma model is better for the raindrop spectrum with a single peak structure. However, this method cannot reflect the double-peak structure when R is large. (3) Some differences have been found in the Z-R relationship between Z and R among the four stations (GY, XM, XY, and ZZ). The maximum value of fitting coefficient a appears at the ZZ station, which is close to the a values in the Meiyu season in eastern China. For the other three stations, the a values are comparable to those of typhoons in the western Pacific, but the fitting coefficient b values are less different. (4) The average vertical profiles of dual-polarization radar parameters reveal the microphysical characteristics of the extremely severe rainstorm, that is, there were active ice-phase and warm-rain microphysical processes in the convective system of the extremely severe rainfall, of which the warm-rain process was more dominant.