干旱区研究

Arid Zone Research >

2025 , Vol. 42 >Issue 2: 212 - 222

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13866/j.azr.2025.02.03

Weather and Climate

Aircraft observation of the cloud microphysical characteristics of stratocumulus precipitation in the Qilian Mountains

  • FU Shuangxi ,
  • QI Peng ,
  • CHANG Yi ,
  • BA Li ,
  • CHEN Qi
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  • 1. Gansu Weather Modification Office, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
    2. CMA Cloud-Precipitation Physics and Weather Modification Key Laboratory, Beijing 100081, China

Received date: 2024-07-03

  Revised date: 2024-09-18

  Online published: 2025-02-21

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Abstract

The microphysical characteristics of a stratiform precipitation cloud in the central Qilian Mountains on August 27, 2022, were analyzed through aircraft measurements. The results revealed significant differences in the cloud microphysical characteristics with different altitudes and regions. The supercooled liquid water content decreased as the altitude increased. In the -6 ℃ to -3 ℃ layer, the mean supercooled liquid water content was about 0.05 g·m-3, while in the higher layer of -15 ℃ to -12 ℃, the supercooled liquid water content was only 0.015 g·m-3, less than one-third of the lower layer. The riming process is essential in the growth of particles at all altitudes, with the mean diameter of the particles in the cloud reaching several hundred micrometers. Combining riming and aggregation processes can result in a particle spectrum width of over 6 mm. The mean diameter of the particles in the -6 ℃ to -3 ℃ layer was smaller than that in the upper layer, which may be caused by the evaporation and fragmentation of large particles while falling. On the mountain’s southwestern side, the low-level southerly wind with moisture lifted by the topography resulted in condensation and the production of numerous cloud droplets. The small particle concentration on the mountain’s southwestern side is one order of magnitude higher than that on the northeastern side, and the supercooled liquid water content is also higher. On the mountain’s southwestern side, the cloud particles are mainly supercooled cloud droplets and graupel particles; the aggregation process is not obvious, and the particle concentration is high. On the northeastern side, aggregated ice particles and graupels dominate, and the low concentration of small particles leads to a larger mean size of cloud particles.

Key words： cloud microphysical characteristics; aircraft observation; orographic stratiform clouds; Qilian Mountains

Cite this article

FU Shuangxi , QI Peng , CHANG Yi , BA Li , CHEN Qi . Aircraft observation of the cloud microphysical characteristics of stratocumulus precipitation in the Qilian Mountains[J]. Arid Zone Research, 2025 , 42(2) : 212 -222 . DOI: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.02.03

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