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A case study of microphysical structures and hydrometeor phase in convection using radar Doppler spectra at Darwin, Australia

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074187· OSTI ID:1402422
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  3. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
  4. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
To understand the microphysical processes that impact diabatic heating and cloud lifetimes in convection, we need to characterize the spatial distribution of supercooled liquid water. To address this observational challenge, ground-based vertically pointing active sensors at the Darwin Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site are used to classify cloud phase within a deep convective cloud. The cloud cannot be fully observed by a lidar due to signal attenuation. Therefore, we developed an objective method for identifying hydrometeor classes, including mixed-phase conditions, using k-means clustering on parameters that describe the shape of the Doppler spectra from vertically pointing Ka-band cloud radar. Furthermore, this approach shows that multiple, overlapping mixed-phase layers exist within the cloud, rather than a single region of supercooled liquid. Diffusional growth calculations show that the conditions for the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen process exist within one of these mixed-phase microstructures.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1402422
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1375069
OSTI ID: 1378031
Report Number(s):
BNL--114428-2017-JA; KP1701000
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 44; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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A case study of microphysical structures and hydrometeor phase in convection using radar Doppler spectra at Darwin, Australia
Journal Article · Fri Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Geophysical Research Letters · OSTI ID:1378031

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Darwin Australia
cloud phase
convection
k-means clustering
radar Doppler spectra
supercooled liquid