Evaluation on Radar Reflectivity-Rainfall Rate (Z-R) Relationships for Guyana

The constant development of science and technology in weather radar results in high-resolution spatial and temporal rainfall estimates and improved early warnings of meteorological phenomena such as flood [1]. Weather radars do not measure the rainfall amount directly, so a relationship between the reflectivity (Z) and rainfall rate (R), called the Z-R relationship (Z = aRb), where a and b are empirical constants, can be used to estimate the rainfall amount. In this research, mathematical techniques were used to find the best climatological Z-R relationships for the Low Coastal Plain of Guyana. The reflectivity data from the S-Band Doppler Weather Radar for February 17 and 21, 2011 and May 8, 2012 together with the daily rainfall depths at 29 rainfall stations located within a 150 km radius were investigated. A climatological Z-R relationship type Z = 200R1.6 (Marshall-Palmer) configured by default into the radar system was used to investigate the correlation between the radar reflectivity and the rainfall by gauges. The same data sets were used with two distinct experimental Z-R relationships, Z = 300R1.4 (WSR-88D Convective) and Z = 250R1.2 (Rosenfeld Tropical) to determine if any could be applicable for area of study. By comprehensive regression analysis, New Z-R and R-Z relationships for each of the three events aforementioned were developed. In addition, a combination of all the samples for all three events were used to produce another relationship called “All in One”. Statistical measures were then applied to detect BIAS and Error STD in order to produce more evidence-based results. It is proven that different Z-R relationships could be calibrated into the radar system to provide more accurate rainfall estimation.

Spectral dispersion of cloud droplet size distributions and radar threshold reflectivity for drizzle

From first principles, we find that the radar threshold reflectivity between nonprecipitating clouds and precipitating clouds is strongly related to not only the cloud droplet number concentration but also the spectral dispersion of cloud droplet size distributions. The further investigation indicates that the threshold value is an increasing function of spectral dispersion and cloud droplet number concentration. These results may improve our understanding of the cloud-precipitation interaction and the aerosol indirect effect.

Microphysical Retrieval from Doppler Radar Reflectivity Using Variational Data Assimilation

One of the microphysical variables, the rainwater mixing ratio qr, is retrieved from the observed reflectivity of Doppler radar by a 3D variational data assimilation system. The qr as an analysis variable is obtained by minimizing a cost function defined as the difference between observed radar reflectivity and its retrieval from qr, plus the difference between qr and its background field from a mesoscale model＇s prediction. Covariance matrix of the background field＇s error is determined by the so-called NMC method. A method called the second-order auto-regression （SOAR） is used to calculate the coefficients of regressive filtering to fit in with small spatial scale such as cumulus in the process of spatial transformation. An ideal experiment demonstrates the correctness of this system and a sensitivity experiment proves that the random error of observed reflectivity has effect on the analyzed results. At last an experiment with observed data from the Doppler radar at Ma＇anshan City in Anhui Province on 19 June 2002 was performed. The retrieved analysis variable qr in this test shows structures in detail, which coincide with the distribution of the echo picture observed by the radar.

ANALYSIS AND CASE STUDY ON THE GENERATION OF RADAR ECHO BRIGHT BAND

In this study, the vertical profiles of radar refractive factor(Z) observed with an X-band Doppler radar in Jurong on July 13, 2012 in different periods of a stratiform cloud precipitation process were simulated using the Sim RAD software, and the contributions of each impact resulting in the bright band were analyzed quantitatively. In the simulation, the parameters inputted into Sim RAD were updated until the output Z profile was nearly consistent with the observation. The input parameters were then deemed to reflect real conditions of the cloud and precipitation. The results showed that a wider(narrower) and brighter(darker) bright band corresponded to a larger(smaller) amount, wider(narrower) vertical distribution, and larger(smaller) mean diameter of melting particles in the melting layer. Besides this,radar reflectivity factors under the wider(narrower) melting layer were larger(smaller). This may be contributed to the adequate growth of larger rain drops in the upper melting layer. Sensitivity experiments of the generation of the radar bright band showed that a drastic increasing of the complex refractive index due to melting led to the largest impact,making the radar reflectivity factor increase by about 15 d BZ. Fragmentation of large particles was the second most important influence, making the value decrease by 10 d BZ. The collision-coalescence between melting particles, volumetric shrinking due to melting, and the falling speed of raindrops made the radar reflectivity factor change by about 3-7d BZ. Shape transformation from spheres to oblate ellipsoids resulted in only a slight increase in the radar reflectivity factors(about 0.2 d BZ), which might be due to the fact that there are few large particles in stratiform cloud.

Error analysis of non-spherical raindrops on precipitation measurement

Radar cross section （RCS） of non-sphericai raindrops is calculated by using the software CST based on finite integral method and compared with RCS of spherical raindrops. The revised factor of non-spherical raindrops is obtained. The radar reflectivity with precipitation change of four distribution models of M-P, Gamma, JD and JT combining the revised factor is gotten using trapezoidal integration. When the infuence of non-spherical raindrops is considered, the accuracy of precipitation measurement of four distribution models can be separately improved 8.77%, 8.47%, 10.53% and 8.04% in the case of rain intensity is 100 mm/h.

Application of wind profiler data to rainfall analyses in Tazhong Oilfield region,Xinjiang,China

To improve the level of meteorological service for the Oilfield region in the Taklimakan Desert, the Urumqi Institute of Desert Meteorology of the China Meteorological Administration （CMA） conducted a detection experiment by means of wind profiling radar （WPR） in Tazhong Oilfield region of Xinjiang, China in July 2010. By using the wind profiler data obtained during the rainfall process on 27 July, this paper analyzed the wind field fea- tures and some related scientific issues of this weather event. The results indicated that： （1） wind profiler data had high temporal resolution and vertical spatial resolution, and could be used to analyze detailed vertical structures of rainfall processes and the characteristics of meso-scale systems. Before and after the rain event on 27 July, the wind field showed multi-layer vertical structures, having an obvious meso-scale wind shear line and three airflows from different directions, speeding up the motion of updraft convergence in the lower atmosphere. Besides, the wind directions before and after the rainfall changed inversely with increasing height. Before the rain, the winds blew clockwise, but after the onset of the rain, the wind directions became counterclockwise mainly; （2） the temperature advection derived from wind profiler data can reproduce the characteristics of low-level thermodynamic evolution in the process of rainfall, which is capable to reflect the variation trend of hydrostatic stability in the atmosphere. In the early stage of the precipitation on 27 July, the lower atmosphere was mainly affected by warm advection which had accumulated unstable energy for the rainfall event and was beneficial for the occurrence of updraft motion and precipitation; （3） the ＂large-value zone＂ of the radar reflectivity factor Z was virtually consistent with the onset and end of the rainfall, the height for the formation of rain cloud particles, and precipitation intensity. The reflectivity factor Z during this event varied approximately in the range of 18-38 dBZ and the rain droplets formed mainly at the layer of 3,800-4,500 m.

Understanding the Variability of Z-R Relationships Caused by Natural Variations in Raindrop Size Distributions(DSD):Implication of Drop Size and Number

In the issue of rainfall estimation by radar through the necessary relationship between radar reflectivity Z and rain rate R (Z-R), the main limitation is attributed to the variability of this relationship. Indeed, several pre-vious studies have shown the great variability of this relationship in space and time, from a rainfall event to another and even within a single rainfall event. Recent studies have shown that the variability of raindrop size distributions and thereby Z-R relationships is therefore, more the result of complex dynamic, thermody-namic and microphysical processes within rainfall systems than a convective/stratiform classification of the ground rainfall signature. The raindrop number and size at ground being the resultant of various processes mentioned above, a suitable approach would be to analyze their variability in relation to that of Z-R relation-ship. In this study, we investigated the total raindrop concentration number NT and the median volume di-ameter D0 used in numerous studies, and have shown that the combination of these two ‘observed’ parame-ters appears to be an interesting approach to better understand the variability of the Z-R relationships in the rainfall events, without assuming a certain analytical raindrop size distribution model (exponential, gamma, or log-normal). The present study is based on the analysis of disdrometer data collected at different seasons and places in Africa, and aims to show the degree of the raindrop size and number implication in regard to the Z-R relationships variability.

Character of Convective Systems Producing Short-Term Heavy Precipitation in Central China Revealed by Kilometer and Minute Interval Observations

Accurate forecasting of heavy precipitation in central China is still a challenge,within which a key issue is our still incomplete understanding of the convective systems(CSs)responsible for such events.In this study,through use of an iterative rain-cell tracking algorithm,the macroscale characteristics(scale,intensity,duration,etc.)of the CSs that produced 595 short-term heavy precipitation events in Hunan Province,central China,are quantitatively analyzed,based on radar reflectivity,echo top,and rainfall observations at 1-km and 6-min intervals in April-September of 2016-2018.The results show that CSs present significant seasonal and diurnal features.Spring CSs usually cover a larger echo area with stronger convective cores and thus generate more precipitation than summer CSs,though summer CSs develop more vigorously and frequently.CSs initiated at 1400-1600 local time are characterized by the strongest convection and a smaller spatiotemporal scale,causing violent and transient showers with typical areal precipitation of 0.5-1 mm km^(−2),but less total precipitation.Further analyses of the relationships among the scale,intensity,duration,and total precipitation of CSs reveal that the convective intensity is linearly correlated to the spatiotemporal scale of CSs,with the duration increasing on average by 0.0372 h dBZ^(−1);the echo area is significantly correlated to the total precipitation,and the duration and rainfall amount are connected with the area expansion rate(AER)of CSs:when the AER exceeds 50%,CSs expand rapidly with increasing total precipitation,but the duration is shorter.These findings provide a helpful reference for the forecasting of short-term heavy precipitation induced by CSs in central China.

Handling non-linearity in radar data assimilation using the non-linear least squares enhanced POD-4DVar

The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition(POD)-based ensemble four-dimensional variational(4DVar) assimilation method(POD4DEnVar) was proposed to combine the strengths of EnKF(i.e.,the ensemble Kalman filter) and 4DVar assimilation methods.Recently,a POD4DEnVar-based radar data assimilation scheme(PRAS) was built and its effectiveness was demonstrated.POD4 DEnVar is based on the assumption of a linear relationship between the model perturbations(MPs)and the observation perturbations(OPs);however,this assumption is likely to be destroyed by the highly non-linear forecast model or observation operator.To address this issue,using the Gauss-Newton iterative method,the nonlinear least squares enhanced POD4 DEnVar algorithm(referred to as NLS-4DVar) was proposed.Naturally,the PRAS was upgraded to form the NLS-4DVar-based radar data assimilation scheme(NRAS).To evaluate the performance of NRAS against PRAS,observing system simulation experiments(OSSEs) were conducted to assimilate reflectivity and radial velocity individually,with one,two,and three iterations.The results demonstrated that the NRAS outperformed PRAS in improving the initial condition and the forecasting of model variables and rainfall.The NRAS,with a smaller number of iterations,can yield a convergent result.In contrast to the situation when assimilating radial velocity,the advantages of NRAS over PRAS were more obvious when assimilating reflectivity.

Low-frequency E-field Detection Array(LFEDA)-Construction and preliminary results

In recent years, locating total lightning at the VLF/LF band has become one of the most important directions in lightning detection. The Low-frequency E-field Detection Array(LFEDA) consisting of nine fast antennas was developed by the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences in Guangzhou between 2014 and 2015. This paper documents the composition of the LFEDA and a lightning-locating algorithm that applies to the low-frequency electric field radiated by lightning pulse discharge events(LPDEs). Theoretical simulation and objective assessment of the accuracy and detection efficiency of LFEDA have been done using Monte Carlo simulation and artificial triggered lightning experiment, respectively. The former results show that having a station in the network with a comparatively long baseline improves both the horizontal location accuracy in the direction perpendicular to the baseline and the vertical location accuracy along the baseline. The latter results show that detection efficiencies for triggered lightning flashes and return strokes are 100% and 95%, respectively. The average planar location error for return strokes of triggered lightning flashes is 102 m. By locating LPDEs in thunderstorms, we find that LPDEs are consistent with convective regions as indicated by strong reflectivity columns, and present a reasonable distribution in the vertical direction.In addition, the LFEDA can reveal an image of lightning development through mapping the channels of lightning. Based on three-dimensional locations, the vertical propagation speed of the preliminary breakdown and the changing trend of the leader's speed in an intra-cloud and a cloud-to-ground flash are investigated. The research results show that the LFEDA has the capability for three-dimensional location of lightning, which provides a new technique for researching lightning development characteristics and thunderstorm electricity.

TRMM-Observed Summer Warm Rain over the Tropical and Subtropical Pacific Ocean:Characteristics and Regional Differences

Based on the merged measurements from the TRMM Precipitation Radar and Visible and Infrared Scanner,refined characteristics（intensity,frequency,vertical structure,and diurnal variation） and regional differences of the warm rain over the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean（40°S-40°N,120°E-70°W）in boreal summer are investigated for the period 1998-2012.The results reveal that three warm rain types（phased,pure,and mixed） exist over these regions.The phased warm rain,which occurs during the developing or declining stage of precipitation weather systems,is located over the central to western Intertropical Convergence Zone,South Pacific Convergence Zone,and Northwest Pacific.Its occurrence frequency peaks at midnight and minimizes during daytime with a 5.5-km maximum echo top.The frequency of this warm rain type is about 2.2%,and it contributes to 40%of the regional total rainfall.The pure warm rain is characterized by typical stable precipitation with an echo top lower than 4 km,and mostly occurs in Southeast Pacific.Although its frequency is less than 1.3%,this type of warm rain accounts for 95%of the regional total rainfall.Its occurrence peaks before dawn and it usually disappears in the afternoon.For the mixed warm rain,some may develop into deep convective precipitation,while most are similar to those of the pure type.The mixed warm rain is mainly located over the ocean east of Hawaii.Its frequency is 1.2%,but this type of warm rain could contribute to 80%of the regional total rainfall.The results also uncover that the mixed and pure types occur over the regions where SST ranges from 295 to 299 K,accompanied by relatively strong downdrafts at 500 hPa.Both the mixed and pure warm rains happen in a more unstable atmosphere,compared with the phased warm rain.