Aggregate Terminal Velocity/Temperature Relations

• DOI: 10.1175/2008jamc1869.1
• Publication Date: 2008-06-03T20:32:50Z
• Authors: Edward A. Brandes; Kyoko Ikeda; Gregory Thompson; Michael Schönhuber
• Keywords: Disdrometer; Terminal velocity; Cold front; Winter storm; Freezing rain; Degree (music)

Abstract Terminal velocities of snow aggregates in storms along the Front Range eastern Colorado are examined with a ground-based two-dimensional video disdrometer. Power-law relationships for particles having equivalent volume diameters 0.5–20 mm computed temperatures −1°, −5°, and −10°C. Fall speeds increase temperature. Comparison found literature suggests that temperature-dependent relations may be surrogates based on aggregate composition (e.g., plates, columns, or dendrites) degree riming.