Precipitation Microphysical Characteristics of Typhoon Mangkhut in Southern China Using 2D Video Disdrometers

• Published in: Atmosphere 2020-09, Vol.11 (9), p.975
• Main Authors: Feng, Lu, Hu, Sheng, Liu, Xiantong, Xiao, Hui, Pan, Xiao, Xia, Feng, Ou, Guanhua, Zhang, Chu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2D video disdrometer; Atmospheric precipitations; Cloud physics; Clouds; Convection; Cyclones; Datasets; Disdrometers; Hurricanes; Investigations; Measurement techniques; microphysics; Moisture content; Numerical weather forecasting; Parameters; Physics; Precipitation; Precipitation processes; Prediction models; Radar; Radar reflectivity; Rain; Rainbands; Raindrop size distribution; Raindrops; Reflectance; Segments; Size distribution; Spatial variations; Tropical climate; Tropical cyclones; Typhoon Mangkhut; Typhoons; Velocity; Water; Water content; Weather forecasting
• ISSN: 2073-4433; 2073-4433
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos11090975

The microphysical characteristics of tropical cyclones vary in different rain regions, which affects not only the dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms of the typhoon system but also the development of tropical cyclones. This study analyzed the raindrop size distribution (DSD) and the gamma DSD parameters associated with Typhoon Mangkhut using three two-dimensional (2D) video disdrometers from the Longmen Field Experiment Base for Cloud Physics, China Meteorological Administration in Guangdong, China during 16–17 September 2018. According to the observed track and radar reflectivity, this process can be divided into three distinct segments: the outer rainband before landfall (S1), the inner core (S2), and the outer rainband after landfall (S3). The outer rainband mainly produces stratiform rains, while the inner core mainly produces convective rains. The temporal and spatial variations in the rain rate, radar reflectivity, and DSD parameters of the different segments were analyzed and compared at three sites. Although the DSD characteristics are distinctly different in the three segments, the DSD characteristics of the same segment were similar at different sites. In the inner core (S2), the precipitation contains smaller drops (around 0.5 mm) and the concentrations are higher within each size bin compared with those of the other segments, resulting in the maximum rain rate (11.66 mm h−1), radar reflectivity (34.53 dBZ), liquid water content (0.65 g m−3), and number concentration (4.12 mm−1 m−3 on a logarithmic scale) occurring in this segment. The Nw–Dm scatter pairs have maritime-like convection, which increases outward from the inner core (S2). The relationship between the shape (μ) and slope (Λ) was also investigated. The microphysical characteristics determined in this study provide useful information for understanding microphysical precipitation processes and for improving the precision of numerical weather prediction models.