Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems

Abstract Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is fundamental for understanding precipitation processes. This study utilized a two‐dimensional simulation with bin cloud microphysics parameterizations to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of DSDs owing to the influence of mesoscale circulation ass...

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Main Authors: Megumi Okazaki, Kosei Yamaguchi, Tomoro Yanase, Eiichi Nakakita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Science Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.1286
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author Megumi Okazaki
Kosei Yamaguchi
Tomoro Yanase
Eiichi Nakakita
author_facet Megumi Okazaki
Kosei Yamaguchi
Tomoro Yanase
Eiichi Nakakita
author_sort Megumi Okazaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is fundamental for understanding precipitation processes. This study utilized a two‐dimensional simulation with bin cloud microphysics parameterizations to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of DSDs owing to the influence of mesoscale circulation associated with the precipitation system. The simulated multicellular convection went through developing, mature, and dissipating stages, with updraft weakening and rainfall area expanding through these stages. The width of the DSD narrowed as rainfall weakened. In addition, a significant bimodal DSD was observed during the dissipating stage. Furthermore, we investigated the spatial distribution of the number density of raindrops corresponding to the maximum, local minimum, and local maximum of the significant bimodal DSD in the dissipating stage. According to the results, the raindrops constituting the maximum, local minimum, and local maximum followed different advection processes. This size‐dependent advection effect may have contributed to the bimodal DSD formation.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1530-261X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Atmospheric Science Letters
spelling doaj-art-719d181320304876865942166b3325102025-01-29T09:47:21ZengWileyAtmospheric Science Letters1530-261X2025-01-01261n/an/a10.1002/asl.1286Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systemsMegumi Okazaki0Kosei Yamaguchi1Tomoro Yanase2Eiichi Nakakita3Disaster Prevention Research Institute Kyoto University Uji JapanDisaster Prevention Research Institute Kyoto University Uji JapanRIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research Kobe JapanDisaster Prevention Research Institute Kyoto University Uji JapanAbstract Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is fundamental for understanding precipitation processes. This study utilized a two‐dimensional simulation with bin cloud microphysics parameterizations to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of DSDs owing to the influence of mesoscale circulation associated with the precipitation system. The simulated multicellular convection went through developing, mature, and dissipating stages, with updraft weakening and rainfall area expanding through these stages. The width of the DSD narrowed as rainfall weakened. In addition, a significant bimodal DSD was observed during the dissipating stage. Furthermore, we investigated the spatial distribution of the number density of raindrops corresponding to the maximum, local minimum, and local maximum of the significant bimodal DSD in the dissipating stage. According to the results, the raindrops constituting the maximum, local minimum, and local maximum followed different advection processes. This size‐dependent advection effect may have contributed to the bimodal DSD formation.https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.1286advectionbimodalmulticellular convectionraindrop size distribution
spellingShingle Megumi Okazaki
Kosei Yamaguchi
Tomoro Yanase
Eiichi Nakakita
Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
Atmospheric Science Letters
advection
bimodal
multicellular convection
raindrop size distribution
title Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
title_full Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
title_fullStr Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
title_full_unstemmed Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
title_short Raindrop size distribution variability associated with size‐dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
title_sort raindrop size distribution variability associated with size dependent advection in convective precipitation systems
topic advection
bimodal
multicellular convection
raindrop size distribution
url https://doi.org/10.1002/asl.1286
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AT koseiyamaguchi raindropsizedistributionvariabilityassociatedwithsizedependentadvectioninconvectiveprecipitationsystems
AT tomoroyanase raindropsizedistributionvariabilityassociatedwithsizedependentadvectioninconvectiveprecipitationsystems
AT eiichinakakita raindropsizedistributionvariabilityassociatedwithsizedependentadvectioninconvectiveprecipitationsystems