Precipitation

12 important questions on Precipitation

Bergeron-Findeisen process (cold)

Optimal at -15 C: then largest difference between saturated vapour pressure of water and ice

Which three factors, determine the raindrop size distribution?

Coalescence and breakup, evaporation, condensation

Precipitation is a result from

A combination of warm and cold cloud processes.
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Requirements for rain gauge set up (WMO)

  • Close to earth's surface
    • prevent wind-induced errors
    • splashing may become problem
  • not too close to buildings
    • difficult to find good location in urban areas
  • prevent vandalism or damage due to animals
  • autumatic rain gauges require good maintenance

How is radar used to detect rainfall?

Distance of rainfall inferred from reflection signal. Part of the transmitted radiation is reflected by rain droplets. The radar measures the received power.

Name some of the sources of error with radar

  • Overshooting
  • propagation conditions
  • nonuniform vertical profile
  • attenuation
  • hail effects
  • sea clutter
  • windmills
  • wet radome
  • calibration
  • insects
  • birds
  • interference
  • aircraft
  • chaff
  • shielding
  • ground clutter

What is a consequence of snow and overshooting with radar?

Underestimation at larger distances from the radar.

What are dual-pol radars?

Dual polarization radars can infer the shape (and thus the size and type) of hydrometeors.

GPM IMERG product

  • 30 min resolution in time; 0.1 resolution in space
  • covers 60 S - 60 N; freely available
    • but on average roughly one satellite overpass per 1.5 h

What is a variogram?

Variograms desribe key properties of spatial correlation.

How are variagram models characterized?

Characterized by Nugget, Sill and Range

Give three factors which cause differences between rainfall measured with radar and microwave links.

  • Radar measures large volume, microwave link measures over path (=smaller volume)
  • radar measures at high altitude when far away from radar. Microwave links are established between towers and thus closer to land surface.
  • measurement eros differ between radar and microwave links

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