A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles

Quasi-vertical profiles (QVPs) obtained from a database of U.S. WSR-88D data are used to document polarimetric characteristics of the melting layer (ML) in cold-season storms with high vertical resolution and accuracy. A polarimetric technique to define the top and bottom of the ML is first introduc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied meteorology and climatology 2020-04, Vol.59 (4), p.751-767
Main Authors: Griffin, Erica M., Schuur, Terry J., Ryzhkov, Alexander V.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Quasi-vertical profiles (QVPs) obtained from a database of U.S. WSR-88D data are used to document polarimetric characteristics of the melting layer (ML) in cold-season storms with high vertical resolution and accuracy. A polarimetric technique to define the top and bottom of the ML is first introduced. Using the QVPs, statistical relationships are developed to gain insight into the evolution of microphysical processes above, within, and below the ML, leading to a statistical polarimetric model of the ML that reveals characteristics that reflectivity data alone are not able to provide, particularly in regions of weak reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization ZH . QVP ML statistics are examined for two regimes in the ML data: ZH ≥20 dBZ and ZH
ISSN:1558-8424
1558-8432
DOI:10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1