Hydrometeor Distribution and Linear Depolarization Ratio in Thunderstorms

0525505 - ÚFA 2021 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Sokol, Zbyněk - Minářová, Jana - Fišer, Ondřej
Hydrometeor Distribution and Linear Depolarization Ratio in Thunderstorms.
Remote Sensing. Roč. 12, č. 13 (2020), č. článku 2144. E-ISSN 2072-4292
Institutional support: RVO:68378289
Keywords : cloud radar * thunderstorm * LDR * hydrometeor * hydrometeor classification * lightning * discharge
OECD category: Meteorology and atmospheric sciences
Impact factor: 4.848, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/13/2144/htm

The distribution of hydrometeors in thunderstorms is still under investigation as well as the process of electrification in thunderclouds leading to lightning discharges. One indicator of cloud electrification might be high values of the Linear Depolarization Ratio (LDR) at higher vertical levels. This study focuses on LDR values derived from vertically pointing cloud radars and the distribution of five hydrometeor species during 38 days with thunderstorms which occurred in 2018 and 2019 in Central Europe, close to our radar site. The study shows improved algorithms for de-aliasing, the derivation of vertical air velocity and the classification of hydrometeors in clouds using radar data. The comparison of vertical profiles with observed lightning discharges in the vicinity of the radar site (≤1 km) suggested that cloud radar data can indirectly identify “lightning” areas by high LDR values observed at higher gates due to the alignment of ice crystals, likely because of an intensified electric field in thunderclouds. Simultaneously, the results indicated that at higher gates, there is a mixture of several hydrometeor species, which suggests a well-known electrification process by collisions of hydrometeors
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0309622