Climatology of the Vertical Profiles of Polarimetric Radar Variables and Retrieved Microphysical Parameters in Continental/Tropical MCSs and Landfalling Hurricanes

Journal Article · 16 February 2022 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd035498 · OSTI ID:1978547

Hu, Jiaxi  ^[1]; Ryzhkov, Alexander ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Norman, OK (United States). National Severe Storms Laboratory; OSTI
2. Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Norman, OK (United States). National Severe Storms Laboratory

Most existing cloud models tend to overestimate the size of cloud ice particles and underestimate their concentration. This emphasizes the need to provide a reliable observational reference to optimize cloud model performance, particularly in areas of high concentration of ice at high altitudes. The dual-polarization radars give the community a unique opportunity to quantify cloud ice with a good accuracy using polarimetric radar retrievals. Here, in this study, we utilize the network of operational WSR-88D radars to build a climatology of the vertical profiles of radar variables, such as radar reflectivity Z, differential reflectivity Z_DR, and specific differential phase K_DP as well as the radar-retrieved vertical profiles of ice water content (IWC) above the melting layer and liquid water content below it, mean volume diameter D_m, and total number concentration N_t of ice and liquid particles. Such climatology was created for continental/marine mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and tropical cyclones including hurricanes. The dataset includes 13 continental MCSs, 10 marine MCSs, and 11 tropical cyclones. Separate statistics of the “background” vertical profiles and the ones associated with high IWC aloft have been obtained in the course of this study. It is shown that continental MCSs exhibit larger size of ice in lower concentration aloft compared to the marine MCSs and especially tropical cyclones/hurricanes. A combination of high KDP and low Z aloft signifies lower D_m, higher N_t, and often substantial IWC.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0018967
• OSTI ID: 1978547
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 127; ISSN 2169-897X
• Publisher: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English