Microphysical Characteristics of Winter Precipitation in Eastern China from 2014 to 2019

Abstract

To improve solid precipitation monitoring in the hydrology and meteorology field, 1-min precipitation data observed by the PARticle SIze VELocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer in Nanjing, eastern China, from February 2014 to February 2019 for all days with solid precipitation, were used to study the microphysical characteristics of winter precipitation. In this study, the empirical V-D (velocity–diameter) relationships and observed surface temperature are used for matching precipitation types, and the precipitation data are divided into rain, graupel, wet snow and dry snow. The results show that dry snow and wet snow have maximum Dm (mass-weighted mean diameter) and minimum log10Nw (normalized intercept parameter), while rain shows the opposite. Additionally, the μ-Λ (shape parameter–slope parameter) curve of dry snow and wet snow is very close, and the μ value of dry snow and wet snow is higher than that of graupel and higher than that of rain for the same Λ value. Furthermore, the Ze-S (equivalent reflectivity factor–precipitation intensity) relationships among different types of precipitation are significantly different. If only the Ze-S relationship of rain is used for quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), then, for small precipitation intensity, solid precipitation will be overestimated, while, for large precipitation intensity, it will be underestimated.

Snowfall Microphysics Characterized by PARSIVEL Disdrometer Observations in Beijing from 2020 to 2022

“…The pink dashed line in Figure 5 is the fitting line of 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑁 and 𝐷 of stratiform precipitation in Bringi et al [36]. There are two dashed boxes of convective precipitation on the right side of the dashed line, where the upper The green and cyan blocks in Figure 5 are the mean values of wet snow and dry snow analyzed by Pu et al [54] in Nanjing. According to Pu et al [54], local 1-h ground temperature data for precipitation days are used to distinguish between dry snow and wet snow.…”

“…However, when the SR is more than or equal to 2.5 mm/h, the corresponding mean D m value is smaller and the mean value of log 10 N w is larger, indicating that the snow particles are mainly small-size graupel particles. The green and cyan blocks in Figure 5 are the mean values of wet snow and dry snow analyzed by Pu et al [54] in Nanjing. According to Pu et al [54], local 1-h ground temperature data for precipitation days are used to distinguish between dry snow and wet snow.…”

“…There are two dashed boxes of convective precipitation on the right side of the dashed line, where the upper The green and cyan blocks in Figure 5 are the mean values of wet snow and dry snow analyzed by Pu et al [54] in Nanjing. According to Pu et al [54], local 1-h ground temperature data for precipitation days are used to distinguish between dry snow and wet snow. If the temperature t ≥ 0 • C, the sample is considered to be wet snow; otherwise, it is considered to be dry snow.…”

“…Yu et al [53] analyzed the microphysical characteristics of snowfall in Pyeongchang, South Korea using three-year snow PSD observed by the PARSIVEL 2 disdrometer in this area. Pu et al [54] classified winter precipitation in Nanjing from 2014 to 2019 by rain, graupel, wet snow and dry snow using the PARSIVEL disdrometer and analyzed the microphysical characteristics of various particles. Tao et al [55] conducted a study on snow particle size distribution and snow estimation in the Nanjing area based on the ground 2DVD and the weather radar data.…”

Statistical Study of Rainfall Inversion Using the Earth-Space Link at the Ku Band: Optimization and Validation for 1 Year of Data

“…According to the development process and corresponding cloud system, natural rainfall is mainly divided into convective rainfall and stratiform rainfall [36], [37]. Significant differences were observed in the rain intensity and cumulative rainfall between the two types of rainfall.…”