Measurement of raindrop size distributions in tropical rain at Costa Rica
artículo original
Fecha
2006Autor
Campos, Edwin F.
Zawadzki, Isztar
Petitdidier, Monique
Fernández Rojas, Walter
Metadatos
Mostrar el registro completo del ítemResumen
This paper presents the results of a unique opportunity of analyzing a large dropsize-
distribution (DSD) sample. Using a well calibrated Optical Spectro Pluviometer sensor for
measuring 1-min DSDs, a sample of one year and seven months of tropical rain has been collected
in San Jose´, Costa Rica. In addition, a quality control procedure was applied to the sample
in order to construct a very robust data set. We examined frequency distributions of some
DSD-derived parameters (such as rainrate, reflectivity, liquid-water content, median and mean
volume diameters). Distinct shapes of average DSDs are observed for convective, transition,
and stratiform rain. It is found that the transition and the stratiform curves are parallel. In
terms of drop growth, this suggests that stratiform and transition raindrops evolve by similar
physical process. Stratifying the DSDs by precipitation types based on physical criteria, prior
to normalization, leads to very distinct normalized shapes. Thus, the idea that all DSDs can
be represented by a single two-parameter normalization does not apply in our case. Overall,
the results indicate that many of the microphysical characteristics of the rain in the sample
resemble the ones observed in orographic rain at Hawaii.
External link to the item
10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.11.047Colecciones
- Meteorología [509]