Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 353-362.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.03.01

• Weather and Climate • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Vertical characteristics of raindrop size distribution in a precipitation process in a Three-River Source Region

GUO Shiyu1,2(), ZHANG Yuxin1,2(), HAN Huibang1,2, ZHOU Wanfu1,2, KANG Xiaoyan1,2, ZHANG Liyan1,2   

  1. 1. Meteorological Disaster Prevention Technology Center in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, Qinghai, China
    2. Key Laboratory for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Qinghai Province, Xining 810001, Qinghai, China
  • Received:2023-07-03 Revised:2023-12-15 Online:2024-03-15 Published:2024-04-01

Abstract:

Based on data obtained from the Micro Rain Radar (MRR), OTT-PARSIVEL laser raindrop spectrometer, and Rain Gauge (RG) at Zeku Station, the applicability of the MRR in the plateau region was compared and examined for a precipitation weather process on September 17, 2021. The vertical variation characteristics of the MRR observation parameters and raindrop spectrum were investigated at different rain rates. Results show that the observed cumulative rainfall results of the MRR were consistent with those of the raindrop spectrometer and RG, and the MRR 200 m rain rate was highly associated with the raindrop spectrometer inversion value. At various levels of rainfall intensity, differences were found in the vertical distribution of precipitation parameters. Reflectivity, rain rate and liquid water content were affected by evaporation, and they fluctuated from high to low levels in the I stage of rain. The evaporation effect was weakened, and the peak height of each microphysical quantity was lower in the II stage of rain. The increase in particle diameter was due to the intensification of collision and coalescence, and the microphysical quantities increased with the decrease in height in the III stage of rain. Precipitation was dominated by small particles, and the raindrop number concentration contribution of small particles at each height layer was the largest. The contribution rate of 1000-4000 m small particles to the rain rate exceeded 90%, and the contribution rate of medium particles below 1000 m to the rain rate increased with the decrease of height. The contribution rate of large particles to the rain rate in the upper layer was greater than that in the lower layer.

Key words: Three-River Source Region, micro rain radar, raindrop size distribution, vertical distribution