Melting Layer Survey.
Abstract
Research involving the region of clouds in which snowflakes and ice crystals melt is reviewed. Studies of how ice crystals and snowflakes melt are examined and show that in general, melting is slower and less structured than was previously realized. An investigation of the radar bright band is included. The increase of returned signal from the melting particles in the bright band comes from the increase of the index of refraction when the particles turn from snow to water. This is not a radar/particle-surface phenomeon, but it is a radar/particle-density interaction. Thus the bright band does not begin at the top of the melting layer as the particles first begin to melt but appears at a lower level when a sufficient mass has melted. The literature survey presented in AFGL-TR-82-0007 is revised and expanded.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA137911
Entities
People
- H. J. Sweeney
- I. D. Cohen
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory