Winter Precipitation Microphysics Characterized by Polarimetric Radar and Video Disdrometer Observations in Central Oklahoma

Guifu Zhang School of Meteorology, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Sean Luchs School of Meteorology, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Alexander Ryzhkov Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Norman, Oklahoma

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Ming Xue School of Meteorology, and Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Lily Ryzhkova Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

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Qing Cao Atmospheric Radar Research Center, and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Abstract

The study of precipitation in different phases is important to understanding the physical processes that occur in storms, as well as to improving their representation in numerical weather prediction models. A 2D video disdrometer was deployed about 30 km from a polarimetric weather radar in Norman, Oklahoma, (KOUN) to observe winter precipitation events during the 2006/07 winter season. These events contained periods of rain, snow, and mixed-phase precipitation. Five-minute particle size distributions were generated from the disdrometer data and fitted to a gamma distribution; polarimetric radar variables were also calculated for comparison with KOUN data. It is found that snow density adjustment improves the comparison substantially, indicating the importance of accounting for the density variability in representing model microphysics.

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

Abstract

The study of precipitation in different phases is important to understanding the physical processes that occur in storms, as well as to improving their representation in numerical weather prediction models. A 2D video disdrometer was deployed about 30 km from a polarimetric weather radar in Norman, Oklahoma, (KOUN) to observe winter precipitation events during the 2006/07 winter season. These events contained periods of rain, snow, and mixed-phase precipitation. Five-minute particle size distributions were generated from the disdrometer data and fitted to a gamma distribution; polarimetric radar variables were also calculated for comparison with KOUN data. It is found that snow density adjustment improves the comparison substantially, indicating the importance of accounting for the density variability in representing model microphysics.

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