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Atmospheric profile and precipitation properties derived from radar and radiosondes during RICO

This presentation explores radar and radiosonde data from the RICO study to analyze rainfall patterns in trade wind cumuli clouds. The study examines the vertical structure of the atmosphere and provides insights for modeling studies. The data, collected using the S-Pol radar, reveals the frequency and intensity of rainfall events, aiding in understanding cloud dynamics and precipitation processes. By relating soundings data to rainfall events, the study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of atmospheric conditions leading to rain formation. Lastly, comparisons with other rainfall estimates and model simulations help validate the findings.

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Atmospheric profile and precipitation properties derived from radar and radiosondes during RICO

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  1. Atmospheric profile and precipitation properties derived from radar and radiosondes during RICO Louise Nuijens With thanks to: Bjorn Stevens (UCLA) Margreet van Zanten & Pier Siebesma (KNMI) September 18 - 2006

  2. In this talk Analysis of S-Pol radar data How frequent and with what intensity do trade wind cumuli produce rain?  from a large scale perspective Analysis of sounding data Can we relate this rainfall to the vertical (dynamic) structure of the atmosphere? Can we provide statistics for modeling studies?

  3. 100 km 20 km > 10 dBZ Raw Filtered Radar analysis: S-Pol • S-Band horizontal (surveillance) scans • Time resolution: ~ 70 scans a day  a scan each 20 minutes • Filtering of ground / sea clutter, birds and Bragg scatter (10 dBZ threshold) • Z-R relation: Uijlenhoet, 2004  1 mm/h  24 dBZ

  4. z ~ 500 m The radar observes rain below cloud base (~ 600 m) 20 km - 60 km Data selection based on range attenuation

  5. Area rainfall during RICO: Time series and probability of rainfall

  6. Time series of area rainfall Mean rainrate 0.026 mm/h ~ 18 W/m2 many small rain peaks “trade cu period” Mean echo coverage: 1.7 %

  7. Rainfall probability How much do the small peaks contribute to the total rainfall? 50 % 0.125 mm/h

  8. Coverage = 2.55 % Recho = 2.12 mm/h Coverage = 1.41 % Recho = 1.52 mm/h Echo cells (3 km) Rainband (> 20 km) Dec 22, 05 UTC Dec 29, 01 UTC Echo structure and rain rates

  9. Can we relate the relative amount of rainfall to the atmospheric profiles ?

  10. Sounding analysis Three type of soundings: • Spanish Point on Barbuda • R/V Seward Johnson • C-130 dropsondes

  11. NE radar domain  q SST

  12. Dec 13, 14, 15 Jan 9, 13, 14, 18 Sounding analysis Do soundings relate to small rain events? • Relate each sounding to a 6 hour average area rainrate • Group by following rainrates in mm/h : 1. 0 – 0.002 ~ 1.4 Wm-2 2. 0.002 – 0.02 ~15 Wm-2 3. > 0.02 NE

  13. 0 - 0.002 0.002 - 0.02 >0.02 Vertical profiles Specific humidity 1.5 g/kg

  14. Vertical profiles Temperature

  15. Vertical profiles Relative humidity 15-20 %

  16. Rainfall versus cloud depth Estimating cloud depth for each sounding Using a very simple parcel ascent scheme for a diluting air parcel: • Air parcel released from max v in the lower subcloud layer • Giving small release excesses l and qt • With entrainment rate inversely proportional to height of parcel Cloud base = LCL, cloud top  LZB (v, parcel = v)

  17. Rainfall versus cloud depth

  18. Some last thoughts… • How do the LES simulations and profiles compare to these findings? • Difficult to obtain a close correlation between parameters derived from soundings and the area rainfall • water vapor deficiency? • theta gradient in cloud layer? • …?

  19. Random / scattered

  20. Clusters?

  21. Deeper convection

  22. Comparison to other estimates Area rain rate [mm/h] S-Pol rain rate coincides with relative rain ratefromsurface station. Suggests that rain reaches the surface.

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