Snow Size Spectra and Radar Reflectivity
Open Access
- 1 March 1970
- journal article
- Published by American Meteorological Society in Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
- Vol. 27 (2) , 299-307
- https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1970)027<0299:sssarr>2.0.co;2
Abstract
Some general properties of exponential particle-size distributions are discussed. Especially significant are the corrections to calculated liquid water content, precipitation rate, radar reflectivity, and median volume diameter resulting from truncations of the exponential size spectrum at maximum diameters less than infinity. These properties are used to analyze available snow particle-size distribution data. It is concluded that the equation, ND = N0 exp (−ΛD), describes the size distribution data for snow adequately. In the equation NDΔD is the concentration of snow particles of melted diameter D to D + ΛD, N0 = 2.50 × 103 R−0.94 [mm−1 m−3], and Λ = 22.9 R−0.45 [cm−1], where R is the precipitation rate in mm hr−1. These expressions for N0 and Λ differ from those given by Gunn and Marshall, and have the advantage that analytical manipulation of the size distribution equation yields consistent results. The following equations have been found for the precipitation content W, the median volume dia... Abstract Some general properties of exponential particle-size distributions are discussed. Especially significant are the corrections to calculated liquid water content, precipitation rate, radar reflectivity, and median volume diameter resulting from truncations of the exponential size spectrum at maximum diameters less than infinity. These properties are used to analyze available snow particle-size distribution data. It is concluded that the equation, ND = N0 exp (−ΛD), describes the size distribution data for snow adequately. In the equation NDΔD is the concentration of snow particles of melted diameter D to D + ΛD, N0 = 2.50 × 103 R−0.94 [mm−1 m−3], and Λ = 22.9 R−0.45 [cm−1], where R is the precipitation rate in mm hr−1. These expressions for N0 and Λ differ from those given by Gunn and Marshall, and have the advantage that analytical manipulation of the size distribution equation yields consistent results. The following equations have been found for the precipitation content W, the median volume dia...Keywords
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