Threshold strongradarstrong reflectivity for drizzling clouds - BNL.pdfVIP

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 35, L03807, doi:10.1029/2007GL031201, 2008 Click Here for Full Article Threshold radar reflectivity for drizzling clouds Yangang Liu,1 Bart Geerts,2 Mark Miller,2 Peter Daum,1 and Robert McGraw1 Received 12 July 2007; revised 21 November 2007; accepted 27 December 2007; published 7 February 2008. [1] Empirical studies have suggested the existence of a essential for studying the non-adiabatic behavior of clouds threshold radar reflectivity between nonprecipitating and [Chin et al., 2000]. precipitating clouds; however, there has been neither a [3] Several studies have proposed a threshold in radar rigorous theoretical basis for the threshold reflectivity nor reflectivity as the basis of discrimination between non- a sound explanation as to why empirically determined precipitating and precipitating clouds. However, there threshold reflectivities differ among studies. Here we appears to be no physically sound approach for specification present a theory for the threshold reflectivity by relating of the threshold reflectivity, and a wide range of values has it to the autoconversion process. This theory not only been used. For example, Chin et al. [2000] used the demonstrates the sharp transition from cloud to rain when threshold of 15 dBZ as an indication of drizzle occurrence the radar reflectivity exceeds some value (threshold in their microphysical retrieval of continental stratiform reflectivity) but also reveals that the threshold reflectivity clouds. Kato et al. [2001] used 20 dBZ in their retrieval is an increasing function of the cloud droplet concentration. of continental stratus. Matros