A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles
Abstract
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 Z H . QVP ML statistics are examined for two regimes in the ML data: Z H ≥ 20 dB Z and Z H < 20 dB Z. Regions of Z H ≥ 20 dB Z indicate locations of MLs collocated with enhanced differential reflectivity Z DR and reduced copolar correlation coefficient ρ hv , while for Z H < 20 dB Z a well-defined ML is difficult to discern using Z H alone. Evidence of large Z DR up to 4 dB, backscatter differential phase δ up to 8°, and low ρ hv down to 0.80 associated with lower Zmore »
- Authors:
-
- Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, and NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory, and School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1615970
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0008811
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology Journal Volume: 59 Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 1558-8424
- Publisher:
- American Meteorological Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Griffin, Erica M., Schuur, Terry J., and Ryzhkov, Alexander V. A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1.
Griffin, Erica M., Schuur, Terry J., & Ryzhkov, Alexander V. A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles. United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1
Griffin, Erica M., Schuur, Terry J., and Ryzhkov, Alexander V. Wed .
"A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles". United States. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1.
@article{osti_1615970,
title = {A Polarimetric Radar Analysis of Ice Microphysical Processes in Melting Layers of Winter Storms Using S-Band Quasi-Vertical Profiles},
author = {Griffin, Erica M. and Schuur, Terry J. and Ryzhkov, Alexander V.},
abstractNote = {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 Z H . QVP ML statistics are examined for two regimes in the ML data: Z H ≥ 20 dB Z and Z H < 20 dB Z. Regions of Z H ≥ 20 dB Z indicate locations of MLs collocated with enhanced differential reflectivity Z DR and reduced copolar correlation coefficient ρ hv , while for Z H < 20 dB Z a well-defined ML is difficult to discern using Z H alone. Evidence of large Z DR up to 4 dB, backscatter differential phase δ up to 8°, and low ρ hv down to 0.80 associated with lower Z H (from −10 to 20 dB Z) in the ML is observed when pristine, nonaggregated ice falls through it. Positive correlation is documented between maximum specific differential phase K DP and maximum Z H in the ML; these are the first QVP observations of K DP in MLs documented at S band. Negative correlation occurs between minimum ρ hv in the ML and ML depth and between minimum ρ hv in the ML and the corresponding enhancement of Z H (Δ Z H = Z Hmax − Z Hrain ).},
doi = {10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1},
journal = {Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology},
number = 4,
volume = 59,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0128.1
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