Print Email Facebook Twitter Observing ice particle growth along fall streaks in mixed-phase clouds using spectral polarimetric radar data Title Observing ice particle growth along fall streaks in mixed-phase clouds using spectral polarimetric radar data Author Pfitzenmaier, L. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing) Unal, C.M.H. (TU Delft Atmospheric Remote Sensing) Dufournet, Yann (SkyEcho) Russchenberg, H.W.J. (TU Delft Geoscience and Remote Sensing) Department Geoscience and Remote Sensing Date 2018-06-04 Abstract The growth of ice crystals in presence of supercooled liquid droplets represents the most important process for precipitation formation in the mid-latitudes. However, such mixed-phase interaction processes remain relatively unknown, as capturing the complexity in cloud dynamics and microphysical variabilities turns to be a real observational challenge. Ground-based radar systems equipped with fully polarimetric and Doppler capabilities in high temporal and spatial resolutions such as the S-band transportable atmospheric radar (TARA) are best suited to observe mixed-phase growth processes. In this paper, measurements are taken with the TARA radar during the ACCEPT campaign (analysis of the composition of clouds with extended polarization techniques). Besides the common radar observables, the 3-D wind field is also retrieved due to TARA unique three beam configuration. The novelty of this paper is to combine all these observations with a particle evolution detection algorithm based on a new fall streak retrieval technique in order to study ice particle growth within complex precipitating mixed-phased cloud systems. In the presented cases, three different growth processes of ice crystals, plate-like crystals, and needles are detected and related to the presence of supercooled liquid water. Moreover, TARA observed signatures are assessed with co-located measurements obtained from a cloud radar and radiosondes. This paper shows that it is possible to observe ice particle growth processes within complex systems taking advantage of adequate technology and state of the art retrieval algorithms. A significant improvement is made towards a conclusive interpretation of ice particle growth processes and their contribution to rain production using fall streak rearranged radar data. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:61fba30f-180f-4ec2-8561-ea17923ed2b5 DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-7843-2018 ISSN 1680-7316 Source Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (online), 18 (11), 7843-7862 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2018 L. Pfitzenmaier, C.M.H. Unal, Yann Dufournet, H.W.J. Russchenberg Files PDF acp_18_7843_2018.pdf 6.9 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:61fba30f-180f-4ec2-8561-ea17923ed2b5/datastream/OBJ/view