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- Title
Estimating Microphysics Properties in Ice-Dominated Clouds from Airborne Ka–W-band Dual-Wavelength Ratio Reflectivity Factor in Close Proximity to In Situ Probes.
- Authors
Grasmick, Coltin; Geerts, Bart; French, Jeffrey R.; Haimov, Samuel; Rauber, Robert M.
- Abstract
Properties of frozen hydrometeors in clouds remain difficult to sense remotely. Estimates of number concentration, distribution shape, ice particle density, and ice water content are essential for connecting cloud processes to surface precipitation. Progress has been made with dual-frequency radars, but validation has been difficult because of lack of particle imaging and sizing observations collocated with the radar measurements. Here, data are used from two airborne profiling (up and down) radars, the W-band Wyoming Cloud Radar and the Ka-band Profiling Radar, allowing for Ka–W-band dual-wavelength ratio (DWR) profiles. The aircraft (the University of Wyoming King Air) also carried a suite of in situ cloud and precipitation probes. This arrangement is optimal for relating the "flight-level" DWR (an average from radar gates below and above flight level) to ice particle size distributions measured by in situ optical array probes, as well as bulk properties such as minimum snow particle density and ice water content. This comparison reveals a strong relationship between DWR and the ice particle median-volume diameter. An optimal range of DWR values ensures the highest retrieval confidence, bounded by the radars' relative calibration and DWR saturation, found here to be about 2.5–7.5 dB. The DWR-defined size distribution shape is used with a Mie scattering model and an experimental mass–diameter relationship to test retrievals of ice particle concentration and ice water content. Comparison with flight-level cloud-probe data indicate good performance, allowing microphysical interpretations for the rest of the vertical radar transects.
- Subjects
UNIVERSITY of Wyoming; ICE clouds; MICROPHYSICS; MIE scattering; PARTICLE size distribution; DROP size distribution; NAND gates
- Publication
Journal of Atmospheric & Oceanic Technology, 2022, Vol 39, Issue 11, p1815
- ISSN
0739-0572
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1175/JTECH-D-21-0147.1