Raindrop size distribution(DSD)is a basic characteristic for describing the microphysical process of rainfall.A better understanding of DSD and its variations is not only crucial for improving microphysical parameterization schemes in numerical weather forecasting models,but also important for radar quantita-tive precipitation estimation.It shows that DSD characteristics are not only related to geographical loca-tion,climate,terrain,and humidity,but also vary among different rainfall types and rain rate in the same region.At present,there are still some uncertainties and limitations in the understanding of microphysical characteristics of rainfall in Northeast China,and the microphysical parameterization scheme still lacks ac-curate description of rainfall microphysical process.Based on observations of the precipitation phenomenon instrument at Xinmin of Liaoning Province in summer,DSD characteristics of different rainfall rate classes are investigated and compared with those of other regions in China.Spectral width of DSD increases with an increase in rain rate(R).The spectral width of raindrops is close to 8 mm when R＞20 mm·h-1.Small drops are predominant in rainfall of Xinmin,but moderate drops make the most significant contribu-tion to total rainfall.Observed DSD samples are also categorized into convective and stratiform rainfall types.The convective rainfall at Xinmin has large raindrop size and low raindrop concentration.Convec-tive rainfall can be identified as continental clusters,with average Dm and lgNw of 2.14 mm and 3.40,while average Dm and lgNw of stratiform rainfall at Xinmin are 1.23 mm and 3.30,respectively.The μ-A and Z-R relationships for convective and stratiform rainfall at Xinmin are thus fitted.Fitted μ-Λ relation-ship at Xinmin is similar to that in other regions fitted with data observed by PARSIVEL disdrometers,but different from the empirical relationship fitted from two-dimensional video raindrop spectrometers(2DVD)observations in other regions,and the difference of instruments is the main cause for the discrep-ancies of μ-Λ relationships.Compared with East China and North China,Xinmin rainfall has larger Dm,lower lgNw,and higher exponent value of fitted Z-R power-law relationship for convective rainfall,indica-ting that the radar reflectivity factor at Xinmin increases more rapidly with the increase of rain rate.Using the Z-R empirical formula fitted at Xinmin can reduce the error of radar-based quantitative precipitation es-timation.Results would contribute to the understanding of microphysical characteristics of rainfall in Northeast China and the accuracy of radar quantitative precipitation estimation.
维普
万方数据