Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (8): 1203-1214.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.08.01

• Weather and Climate • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Statistics and analysis of surface raindrop spectrum characteristics in Liupan Mountain area of Ningxia

MA Simin1,2(),SHU Zhiliang1,2(),CHANG Zhuolin1,2,ZHOU Nan1,2,LIU Shijun3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory for Meteorological Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning and Risk Management of Characteristic Agriculture in Arid Regions, CMA, Yinchuan 750002, Ningxia, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster Preventing and Reducing of Ningxia, Yinchuan 750002, Ningxia, China
    3. Wuhai Meteorological Bureau, Wuhai 016000, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2023-01-18 Revised:2023-05-11 Online:2023-08-15 Published:2023-08-24

Abstract:

The microphysical parameters, average characteristics of raindrop spectra, and gamma distribution parameters of three types of rainfall (stratiform, cumulonimbus, and stratocumulus) were analyzed using raindrop spectrum data from different stations of 58 rainfall processes in the Liupan Mountains from 2020 to 2021. The results are as follows: (1) The mean values for all microphysical parameters at each station were higher for cumulonimbus rainfall compared to stratocumulus and stratiform rainfall. In stratiform and stratocumulus rainfall, the mean diameter (Dave) and mode diameter (Dmode) were smaller at the top and bottom of the mountain and greater on the mountainside. Conversely, the maximum diameter (Dmax), mass-weighted mean diameter (Dmode), rain rate (R), radar reflectivity (Z), and liquid water content (Q) increased with elevation on the east and west slopes. (2) The contributions of small raindrops to rain rate (R) and number concentration (N) were higher in stratiform and stratocumulus rainfall than in cumulonimbus rainfall. However, the contributions of small and medium-sized raindrops to N and R, respectively, were higher in cumulonimbus rainfall than in stratiform and stratocumulus rainfall. (3) The N0, μ, and λ parameters of gamma distribution decreased with an increase in altitude. The slope of the μ-λ fitting curve was closely related to the type of rainfall. (4) Compared with the foot of the mountain sites, the peak site exhibited a decrease in raindrop number concentration (Nw) and an increase in mean scale (Dm). (5) The characteristic diameter and microphysical parameters varied under different circulation situations.

Key words: Liupan Mountains, raindrop spectrum, microphysical parameters, Gamma distribution