RAINDROP-SIZE STUDIES.

Abstract

Qualitative analysis of raindrop-size distributions in heavy showers indicates that some of their prominent features can be explained by the combined effects of wind-shear sorting of drops and of the splashing of large drops upon surface obstructions. Computational studies which account for the effects of cloud-droplet accretion, raindrop coalescence, and evaporation processes indicate that, in steady-state rain, the origin of large drops lies in snow-aggregation processes above the melting layer. Extending this finding to speculate upon observed differences between heavy shower drop-size distributions in June as compared to October, it is suggested that the relative predominance of the ice-crystal or water-drop processes in convective storms may be indicated by features of the ground-level drop-size distributions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0426171

Entities

People

  • A. Nelson Dingle

Organizations

  • University of Michigan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coalescence
  • Drops
  • Evaporation
  • Ground Level
  • Raindrops
  • Steady State
  • Wind
  • Wind Shear

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Theoretical Analysis.