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On using the relation between Doppler velocity and radar reflectivity to distinguish microphysical regimes in ice clouds

 
Poster PDF

Authors

Heike Kalesse-Los — Leipzig University
Pavlos Kollias — Stony Brook University
Wanda Szyrmer — McGill University - Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

Category

Cloud Properties

Description

For Doppler cloud radars, a power-law relation between Doppler-velocity (Vd) and radar reflectivity (Z, in mm6 m-3) can be developed for each cloud and each height within that cloud. The coefficients a and b of this relation are obtained by linear regression. The power-law relation exhibits some vertical variability within a cloud. Typical values of a and b depend on relative location from cloud top, temperature, and cloud thickness. The possibility of using profiles of the thus retrieved coefficients to distinguish microphysical regimes in ice clouds is explored. The methodology is demonstrated using Doppler radar measurements from ice clouds at the Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility site in the Southern Great Plains (SGP), Oklahoma, U.S.