In Situ Microphysical Observations of a Multicell Storm Using a Balloon‐Borne Video Disdrometer During Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry

Abstract

The microphysical characteristics of severe storms and deep convection are challenging but critical in situ observations. Adjustments to modeled microphysical parameters, radar-based hydrometeor classifications, and lightning initiation research all depend on an accurate depiction of real-world particle size distributions. To obtain these observations, a balloon-borne particle imaging device known as the Particle Size, Image, and Velocity probe has been developed at the National Severe Storms Laboratory that is capable of measuring particle size distributions of different particle habits on vertical scales as small as 50 m. The Particle Size, Image, and Velocity observations show that there are rapid shifts in particle counts between successive analysis layers, documenting the small-scale heterogeneity present inside deep convection. Furthermore, when examining functional fits using both a two and three moment scheme on the total distribution as well as individual particle habits, it is clear that a single prescribed parameter space is not adequate to describe the observations collected. When comparing radar reflectivity calculated from the distribution to independent observations from ground based mobile radars, the two sources agree to within 5 dBZ. This provides confidence to the particle density assumptions made here.

Characteristics of Raindrop Size Distributions in Chongqing Observed by a Dense Network of Disdrometers

“…Many studies have investigated the RSD at different time scales for different climatological or geographical regions and showed great variations of RSD characteristics (e.g., Dingle & Hardy, 1962; Waldvogel, 1974; Bringi et al., 2003; Uijlenhoet et al., 2003; B. Chen et al., 2016; L. Wen et al., 2016, 2017; G. Wen et al., 2017; Seela et al., 2018; Ji et al., 2019; Ma et al., 2019; A. Zhang et al., 2019; Fu et al., 2020; Luo et al., 2020; Wang et al., 2020). Even in the same region, RSD features vary with altitudes (B. Chen et al., 2020; Waugh et al., 2020). Comparison between these studies helps to improve the knowledge of the evolution and variability of RSDs under different conditions, for example, from maritime to continental background and from summer to winter.…”

“…Even in the same region, RSD features vary with altitudes (B. Chen et al, 2020;Waugh et al, 2020). Comparison between these studies helps to improve the knowledge of the evolution and variability of RSDs under different conditions, for example, from maritime to continental background and from summer to winter.…”