Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

A Preliminary Analysis of Spatial Variability of Raindrop Size Distributions during Stratiform Rain Events

Choong Ke Lee Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Republic of Korea

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Gyu Won Lee Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Republic of Korea, and National Center for Atmospheric Research,* Boulder, Colorado

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Isztar Zawadzki J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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Kyung-Eak Kim Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Republic of Korea

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JAMC1877.1
Page(s):
270–283
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Abstract

The spatial variability of raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and precipitation fields is investigated utilizing disdrometric measurements from the four Precipitation Occurrence Sensor Systems (POSS) and radar reflectivity fields from S-band dual-polarization radar and vertically pointing X-band radar. The spatial cross correlation of the moments of DSDs, their ratio, error in rainfall estimate, and normalization parameters are quantified using a “noncentered” correlation function. The time-averaged spatial autocorrelation function of observed radar reflectivity factor (Ze) is smaller than that of estimated rainfall rate from Ze because of power-law R–Z transformation with its exponent larger than unity. The important spatial variability of DSDs and rain integral fields is revealed by the significant differences among average DSDs and leads to an average fractional error of 25% in estimating rainfall accumulation during an event. The spatial correlation of the reflectivity from POSS is larger than that of Ze because of larger measurement noise in Ze. The higher moments of DSDs are less correlated in space than lower moments. The correlation of rainfall estimate error is higher than that of estimated rainfall rate and of rainfall rate calculated from DSDs. The correlation of the characteristic number density is low (0.87 at 1.3-km distance), suggesting that the assumed homogeneity of the characteristic number density in space could result in larger errors in the retrieval of DSDs and rain-related parameters. However, the characteristic diameter is highly correlated in space.

* The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Choong Ke Lee, Dept. of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370, Sankyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Taegu 702-701, South Korea. Email: leeck@mltm.go.kr

Abstract

The spatial variability of raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and precipitation fields is investigated utilizing disdrometric measurements from the four Precipitation Occurrence Sensor Systems (POSS) and radar reflectivity fields from S-band dual-polarization radar and vertically pointing X-band radar. The spatial cross correlation of the moments of DSDs, their ratio, error in rainfall estimate, and normalization parameters are quantified using a “noncentered” correlation function. The time-averaged spatial autocorrelation function of observed radar reflectivity factor (Ze) is smaller than that of estimated rainfall rate from Ze because of power-law R–Z transformation with its exponent larger than unity. The important spatial variability of DSDs and rain integral fields is revealed by the significant differences among average DSDs and leads to an average fractional error of 25% in estimating rainfall accumulation during an event. The spatial correlation of the reflectivity from POSS is larger than that of Ze because of larger measurement noise in Ze. The higher moments of DSDs are less correlated in space than lower moments. The correlation of rainfall estimate error is higher than that of estimated rainfall rate and of rainfall rate calculated from DSDs. The correlation of the characteristic number density is low (0.87 at 1.3-km distance), suggesting that the assumed homogeneity of the characteristic number density in space could result in larger errors in the retrieval of DSDs and rain-related parameters. However, the characteristic diameter is highly correlated in space.

* The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

Corresponding author address: Choong Ke Lee, Dept. of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University, 1370, Sankyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Taegu 702-701, South Korea. Email: leeck@mltm.go.kr

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