Microphysical Characteristics of Mixed Convective Stratiform Cloud Precipitation in Central Shanxi
This study analyzed the vertical distribution of cloud microphysical structure,ice crystal morphology,and precipitation characteristics using airborne detection and surface raindrop spectrum observation data of a convective-stratiform mixed cloud precipitation event in central Shanxi province on May 9th,2011.The findings indicate the mixed convective stratiform cloud is an inhomogeneous vertical distribution of the cold cloud,characterized by abundant supercooled water.Additionally,the presence of convective bubbles leads to variations in the liquid water content across different positions in the cloud.The deposition process at 5 300 m results in a noteworthy increase in the number concentration of both cloud particles and precipitation particles.The size distribution of small cloud particles exhibits a single peak,with peak diameters ranging from 5 to 6 μm or 9 to 10 μm,whereas the size distribution of larger cloud particles is characterized by multiple peaks.The observed ice crystal morphology during this process includes plate-shaped,needle column-shaped,column cap-shaped,spoke-shaped,and irregular-shaped crystals.Aggregation and riming at 4 900 m lead to the enhancement of spoke and needle column ice crystals,while riming ice crystals experience a significant increase near the melting layer at 4.1 km.The microphysical structure of the precipitation is predominantly stratiform due to the placement of the raindrop spectrometer.
stratiform cloud with embedded convectioncloud microphyscial charateristicsvertical structureparticle morphology