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Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Prat, OP; Barros, AP
Published in: IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings
September 11, 2009

A bin-model was used to characterize the signature of dynamical microphysical processes on Z-R relationships used for radar rainfall estimation. The sensitivity analysis performed shows that coalescence is the dominant microphysical process for low to moderate rain intensity regimes (R < 20mm h-1), and that rain rate in this regime is strongly dependent on the spectral properties of the DSD (i.e. the shape). For high intensity rainfall (R > 20mm h-1), collision-breakup dynamics dominate the evolution of the raindrop spectra. Analysis of the time-dependent Z-R relationships produced by the model suggests convergence to a universal Z-R relationship for heavy intensity rainfall. Conversely, the model results show that Z-R relationships severely underestimate reflectivity in the light rainfall regime. ©2009 IEEE.

Duke Scholars

Published In

IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings

DOI

ISSN

1097-5659

Publication Date

September 11, 2009
 

Citation

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Prat, O. P., & Barros, A. P. (2009). Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation. IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1109/RADAR.2009.4977122
Prat, O. P., and A. P. Barros. “Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation.” IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings, September 11, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1109/RADAR.2009.4977122.
Prat OP, Barros AP. Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation. IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings. 2009 Sep 11;
Prat, O. P., and A. P. Barros. “Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation.” IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings, Sept. 2009. Scopus, doi:10.1109/RADAR.2009.4977122.
Prat OP, Barros AP. Combining a rain microphysical model and observations: Implications for radar rainfall estimation. IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings. 2009 Sep 11;

Published In

IEEE National Radar Conference - Proceedings

DOI

ISSN

1097-5659

Publication Date

September 11, 2009