Describing the Shape of Raindrop Size Distributions Using Uncorrelated Raindrop Mass Spectrum Parameters

• DOI: 10.1175/jamc-d-13-076.1
• Publication Date: 2014-02-25T20:31:39Z
• Authors: Christopher R. Wi...; V. N. Bringi; Lawrence D. Carey; V. Chandrasekar; Patrick N. Gatlin; Ziad S. Haddad; Robert Meneghini; S. Joseph Munchak; Stephen W. Nesbitt; Walter A. Petersen; Simone Tanelli; Ali Tokay; Anna Wilson; David B. Wolff
• Keywords: Disdrometer

Abstract Rainfall retrieval algorithms often assume a gamma-shaped raindrop size distribution (DSD) with three mathematical parameters N w , D m and μ . If only two independent measurements are available, as the dual-frequency precipitation radar on Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core satellite, then underconstrained require assumptions about DSD parameters. To reduce number of free parameters, can that is either constant or function Previous studies have suggested –Λ constraints [where Λ = (4 + )/ ], but controversies exist over whether result from physical processes artifacts due to high correlations between gamma This study avoids by developing joint probability functions (joint PDFs) statistically attributes derived mass spectrum. These PDFs mapped into parameter be used in probabilistic rainfall proposed for GPM satellite program. Surface disdrometer data show correlation coefficient spectrum mean diameter standard deviation σ remove attributes, normalized constructed representing most likely value std its dispersion. Joint created A simple algorithm shows rain-rate estimates had smaller biases when assuming breadth than