Statistical Characteristics of Raindrop Size Distribution in the Monsoon Season Observed in Southern China

Abstract

This study investigates the statistical characteristics of raindrop size distributions (DSDs) in monsoon season with observations collected by the second-generation Particle Size and Velocity (Parsivel2) disdrometer located in Zhuhai, southern China. The characteristics are quantified based on convective and stratiform precipitation classified using the rainfall intensity and total number of drops. On average of the whole dataset, the DSD characteristic in southern China consists of a higher number concentration of relatively small-sized drops when compare with eastern China and northern China, respectively. In the meanwhile, the Dm and log10Nw scatter plots prove that the convective rain in monsoon season can be identified as maritime-like cluster. The DSD is in good agreement with a three-parameter gamma distribution, especially for the medium to large raindrop size. Using filtered data observed by Parsivel2 disdrometer, a new Z–R relationship, Z = 498R1.3, is derived for convective rain in monsoon season in southern China. These results offer insights of the microphysical nature of precipitation in Zhuhai during monsoon season, and provide essential information that may be useful for precipitation retrievals based on weather radar observations.