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Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Diagnosing the Intercept Parameter for Exponential Raindrop Size Distribution Based on Video Disdrometer Observations: Model Development

Guifu Zhang1, Ming Xue2, Qing Cao3, and Daniel Dawson4
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  • 1 School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  • | 2 School of Meteorology, and Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  • | 3 School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  • | 4 School of Meteorology, and Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Print Publication:
01 Nov 2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JAMC1876.1
Page(s):
2983–2992
Restricted access

Abstract

The exponential distribution N(D) = N0 exp(−ΛD) with a fixed intercept parameter N0 is most commonly used to represent raindrop size distribution (DSD) in rainfall estimation and in single-moment bulk microphysics parameterization schemes. Disdrometer observations show that the intercept parameter is far from constant and systematically depends on the rain type and intensity. In this study, a diagnostic relation of N0 as a function of rainwater content W is derived based on two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) measurements. The data reveal a clear correlation between N0 and W in which N0 increases as W increases. To minimize the effects of sampling error, a relation between two middle moments is used to derive the N0–W relation. This diagnostic relation has the potential to improve rainfall estimation and bulk microphysics parameterizations. A parameterization scheme for warm rain processes based on the diagnostic N0 DSD model is formulated and presented. The diagnostic N0-based parameterization scheme yields less evaporation and accretion for stratiform rain than that using fixed N0.

* Current affiliation: School of Meteorology, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

+ Current affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Guifu Zhang, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 5900, Norman, OK 73072. Email: guzhang1@ou.edu

Abstract

The exponential distribution N(D) = N0 exp(−ΛD) with a fixed intercept parameter N0 is most commonly used to represent raindrop size distribution (DSD) in rainfall estimation and in single-moment bulk microphysics parameterization schemes. Disdrometer observations show that the intercept parameter is far from constant and systematically depends on the rain type and intensity. In this study, a diagnostic relation of N0 as a function of rainwater content W is derived based on two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) measurements. The data reveal a clear correlation between N0 and W in which N0 increases as W increases. To minimize the effects of sampling error, a relation between two middle moments is used to derive the N0–W relation. This diagnostic relation has the potential to improve rainfall estimation and bulk microphysics parameterizations. A parameterization scheme for warm rain processes based on the diagnostic N0 DSD model is formulated and presented. The diagnostic N0-based parameterization scheme yields less evaporation and accretion for stratiform rain than that using fixed N0.

* Current affiliation: School of Meteorology, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

+ Current affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Guifu Zhang, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 5900, Norman, OK 73072. Email: guzhang1@ou.edu

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