Relationship between Aerosols, Hail Microphysics, and Z DR Columns

Mechanisms of formation of differential reflectivity columns are investigated in simulations of a midlatitude summertime hailstorm with hailstones up to several centimeters in diameter. Simulations are performed using a new version of the Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM) with spectral bin microp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the atmospheric sciences 2018-06, Vol.75 (6), p.1755
Main Authors: Ilotoviz, E, Khain, A, Ryzhkov, Alexander V, Snyder, Jeffrey C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosol concentrations
Aerosols
Atmospheric sciences
Clouds
Computer simulation
Cotton
Educational institutions
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Hail
Hailstones
Laboratories
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Microphysics
Numerical analysis
Polarimetric radar
Precipitation
Radar
Radar polarimetry
Radar reflectivity
Rain
Raindrops
Reflectance
Storms
Updraft
Vertical velocities
Weather
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Summary:Mechanisms of formation of differential reflectivity columns are investigated in simulations of a midlatitude summertime hailstorm with hailstones up to several centimeters in diameter. Simulations are performed using a new version of the Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM) with spectral bin microphysics. A polarimetric radar forward operator is used to calculate radar reflectivity and differential reflectivity ZDR. It is shown that ZDR columns are associated with raindrops and with hail particles growing in a wet growth regime within convective updrafts. The height and volume of ZDR columns increases with an increase in aerosol concentration. Small hail forming under clean conditions grows in updrafts largely in a dry growth regime corresponding to low ZDR. Characteristics of ZDR columns are highly correlated with vertical velocity, hail size, and aerosol concentration.
ISSN:0022-4928
1520-0469
DOI:10.1175/JAS-D-17-0127.1