Vol.32, NO.6, 2021
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
Article Navigation >  Journal of Applied Meteorological Science  > 2021  >  32(6): 691-705
Cheng Peng, Luo Han, Chang Yi, et al. Aircraft measurement of microphysical characteristics of a topographic cloud precipitation in Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(6): 691-705. DOI:  10.11898/1001-7313.20210605.
Citation: Cheng Peng, Luo Han, Chang Yi, et al. Aircraft measurement of microphysical characteristics of a topographic cloud precipitation in Qilian Mountains. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(6): 691-705. DOI:  10.11898/1001-7313.20210605.
shu

Aircraft Measurement of Microphysical Characteristics of a Topographic Cloud Precipitation in Qilian Mountains

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20210605
  • 1.

    Lanzhou Meterological Bureau of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730020

  • 2.

    Gansu Weather Modification Office, Lanzhou 730020

  • 3.

    Key Laboratory for Cloud Physics of China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081

  • 4.

    Sichuan Weather Modification Office, Chengdu 610072

  • 5.

    Lanzhou Central Meterological Observatory, Lanzhou 730020

  • 6.

    Minle Meterological Bureau of Gansu Province, Zhangye 734500

  • Received Date: 2021-07-19
  • Rev Recd Date: 2021-08-25
  • Publish Date: 2021-11-23
    Abstract
  • Qilian Mountains are an important ecological barrier in Northwest China. The precipitation in Qilian Mountains is mainly caused by topographical cloud system. Aircraft detection in Qilian Mountains is of great significance for deepening the understanding of cloud microphysical processes, and for scientifically and effectively carrying out artificial precipitation operations to improve the ecological environment. Using the airborne observations of a topographic cloud precipitation process in Qilian Mountains on 29 August 2020, the microphysical characteristics of the summer cloud precipitation process in Qilian Mountains are studied. The cloud system presents an obvious layered structure. The height of the cloud base is 4000 m, and the water content of the whole layer is relatively rich. The liquid water content (L) is between 0.65 and 1.1 g·m-3, and the cloud water large value area appears at 4500-5300 m altitude, which has a high concentration of cloud droplets. The water content of cloud water is mainly contributed by cloud droplets between 15 and 20 μm. The average concentrations of small cloud particles and large cloud particles are 7.54 cm-3 and 0.86 cm-3. The average effective diameters of small cloud particles and large cloud particles are 11.02 μm and 198.11 μm. The cloud particles in Qilian Mountains have the characteristics of small concentration and large diameter. There are obvious differences in cloud microphysical characteristics between the north and south slopes of Qilian Mountains. Affected by the topography, the concentration and diameter of cloud droplets on the northern slope are larger than those on the southern slope, and L on the northern slope are significantly larger than those on the southern slope too. The spectra of cloud droplets at different heights in Qilian Mountains are respectively unimodal distribution. The spectrum of cloud droplets with a diameter less than 50 μm can be fitted by Gamma distribution, while the spectrum of cloud droplets with a diameter greater than 50 μm shows a power exponent distribution. The ice crystals in the ice layer are mainly grown through the process of sublimation and coalescence. The growth mechanism of the ice crystals in the mixed layer is mainly the Bergeron process, and accompanied by attachment and aggregation growth.
    • FullText(HTML)
    References(40)

  • Fig. 1  Detecting flight trajectory on 29 Aug 2020

    (the shaded denotes the altitude)

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 2  Time change of vertical profile of reflectivity factor at 38°21′N, 100°37′E observed by C-band Doppler radar at Zhangye on 29 Aug 2020

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 3  Horizontal distribution characteristics of cloud microphysics at 6200 m altitude on 29 Aug 2020 (a)liquid water content and temperature, (b)concentration and effective diameter of CAS, (c)spectrum of CAS, (d)concentration and effective diameter of CIP, (e)spectrum of CIP, (f)concentration and effective diameter of PIP, (g)spectrum of PIP

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 4  Horizontal distribution characteristics of cloud microphysics at 6800 m altitude on 29 Aug 2020 (a)liquid water content and temperature,(b)concentration and effective diameter of CAS, (c)spectrum of CAS,(d)concentration and effective diameter of CIP,(e)spectrum of CIP, (f)concentration and effective diameter of PIP,(g)spectrum of PIP

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 5  Vertical distribution of cloud microphysical quantities detected from 1016 BT to 1042 BT at Menyuan on the south side of Qilian Mountains on 29 Aug 2020 (a)temperature and liquid water content, (b)particle concentration and diameter of CAS, (c)particle concentration and diameter of CIP, (d)particle concentration and diameter of PIP

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 6  Images of cloud particles by CIP during detecting flight on 29 Aug 2020

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 7  Cloud microphysical characteristics during the detection flight over Qilian Mountains on 29 Aug 2020

    (the circle track represents the detection flight path, the color of circles represents the particle number concentration, the size of circles represents the effective diameter of the particle(D,unit:102 μm), and the black line shows the terrain of Qilian Mountains)

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 8  Particle number concentration (the dot) and fitting curve at different heights (a)gamma distribution fitting of CAS particle, (b)Γ distribution fitting of CAS particle, (c)power exponent distribution fitting of CIP particle, (d)M-P distribution fitting of CIP particle

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Fig. 9  CAS(a) and CIP(b) average particle spectrum distribution in different supercooled water content intervals

    DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

    Table  1  Parameter statistics of cloud particle characteristics during detecting flight on 29 Aug 2020

    要素 统计量 时间
    11:20—11:30 11:52—12:12
    NCAS/cm-3 平均值 5.05 13.35
    最大值 25.66 62.67
    DCAS/μm 平均值 10.74 16.37
    最大值 27.5 47.47
    NCIP/cm-3 平均值 0.68 2.17
    最大值 6.83 10.43
    DCIP/μm 平均值 58.63 146.04
    最大值 625.00 1150.00
    NPIP/cm-3 平均值 0.0004 0.012
    最大值 0.001 0.13
    DPIP/μm 平均值 111.60 738.80
    最大值 1683.60 4589.40
    LWC/(g·m-3) 平均值 0.71 0.77
    最大值 0.83 0.99
    DownLoad: Download CSV

    Table  2  The fitting results of the concentration spectrum of small cloud droplets at different heights

    高度/m Gamma Γ
    截距N0 形状因子μ 斜率Λ 决定系数R2 截距N0 斜率Λ
    5600 1.09×10-5 8.410 0.455 0.932 1.317 0.110
    6200 9.92×10-7 9.179 0.518 0.982 0.382 0.116
    6600 9.78×10-7 10.430 0.670 0.946 1.205 0.129
    DownLoad: Download CSV

    Table  3  The fitting results of the concentration spectrum of big cloud droplets at different heights

    高度/m M-P 幂指数
    截距N0 斜率Λ 截距N0 斜率Λ 决定系数R2
    5600 26.583 0.006 1.63×103 1.059 0.891
    6200 79.733 0.022 2.2×104 1.700 0.961
    6600 8.306 0.0120 1.43×103 1.427 0.940
    DownLoad: Download CSV
  • [1]
    Hobbs P V.The nature of winter clouds and precipitation in the Cascade Mountains and their modification by artificial seeding.Part I:Natural conditions. J Appl Meteor, 1975, 14(5):783-804. doi:  10.1175/1520-0450(1975)014<0783:TNOWCA>2.0.CO;2
    [2]
    Hobbs P V, Radke L F. The nature of winter clouds and precipitation in the Cascade Mountains and their modification by artificial seeding. Part Ⅱ: Techniques for the physical evaluation of seeding. J Appl Meteor, 1975, 14(5): 805-818. doi:  10.1175/1520-0450(1975)014<0805:TNOWCA>2.0.CO;2
    [3]
    Prasad N, Rodi A R, Heymsfiield A J. Observations and numerical simulations of precipitation development in seeded clouds over the Sierra Nevada. J Appl Meteor, 1989, 28(10): 283-289. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989JApMe..28.1031P
    [4]
    Deshler T, Reynolds D W. The persistence of seeding effects in a winter orographic cloud seeded with silver iodide burned in acetone. J Appl Meteor, 1990, 29(6): 477-488. doi:  10.1175/1520-0450(1990)029<0477:TPOSEI>2.0.CO;2
    [5]
    Chu X, Geerts B, Xue L, et al. A case study of cloud radar observations and large-eddy simulations of a shallow stratiform orographic cloud, and the impact of glaciogenic seeding. J Appl Meteor Climatol, 2017, 56(5): 1285-1304. doi:  10.1175/JAMC-D-16-0364.1
    [6]
    Lou X F, Fu Y, Su Z J. Advances of silver iodide seeding agents for weather modification. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(2): 146-159. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20210202
    [7]
    Su Z J, Guo X L, Zhuge J, et al. Developing and testing of an expansion cloud chamber for cloud physics research. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(6): 722-730. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190608
    [8]
    Geerts B, Miao Q, Yang Y, et al. An airborne profiling radar study of the impact of glaciogenic cloud seeding on snowfall from winter orographic clouds. J Atmos Sci, 2010, 67(10): 3286-3301. doi:  10.1175/2010JAS3496.1
    [9]
    Liu P, Yin Y, Chen Q, et al. Numerical simulation of hygroscopic seeding effects on warm convective clouds and rainfall reduction. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(2): 211-222. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190208
    [10]
    Qi P, Guo X L, Lu G X, et al. Aircraft measurements of a stable stratiform cloud with embedded convection in eastern Taihang Mountain of North China: Characteristics of embedded convection and melting layer structure. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2019, 43(6): 1365-1384. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK201906012.htm
    [11]
    Chang W T, Gao W H, Duan Y H, et al. The impact of cloud microphysical processes on typhoon numerical simulation. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(4): 443-455. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190405
    [12]
    Fang C G, Guo X L. The microphysical structure of a heavy fog event in North China. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(6): 700-709. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190606
    [13]
    Li H Y, Zhou X, Zhang R, et al. Comparison and analysis of several meteorological elements and flight parameters observed from different airborne detection instruments. Meteor Mon, 2020, 46(9): 1143-1152. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXXX202009002.htm
    [14]
    Li D Q, Li K K, Li H Y, et al. Design and implementation of mobile application for real-time monitoring of weather-modification aircraft operations. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(6): 745-758. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190610
    [15]
    Hao J, Chen J H, Pu M J, et al. Aircraft measurements of microphysical properties of clouds over eastern China in summer. Journal of the Meteorological Sciences, 2019, 39(4): 524-531. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXKX201904010.htm
    [16]
    Mao J T, Zheng G G. Discussions on some weather modification issues. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2006, 17(5): 643-646. http://qikan.camscma.cn/article/id/200605109
    [17]
    Guo X L, Fang C G, Lu G X, et al. Progresses of weather modification technologies and applications in China from 2008 to 2018. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2019, 30(6): 641-650. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20190601
    [18]
    Wang Y F, Huang W B, He C Y, et al. Analysis on microphysical structure of stratiform clouds in autumn in Loess plateau of middle Gansu. Journal of Arid Meteorology, 2017, 35(1): 64-72. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GSQX201701009.htm
    [19]
    Fan Y, Guo X L, Zhang D G, et al. Airborne particle measuring system measurement on structure and size distribution of stratocumulus during August to September in 2004 over Beijing and its surrounding areas. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2010, 34(6): 1187-1200. doi:  10.3878/j.issn.1006-9895.2010.06.12
    [20]
    Yang J F, Hu X F, Lei H C, et al. Airborne observations of microphysical characteristics of stratiform cloud over eastern side of Taihang Mountains. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2021, 45(1): 88-106. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK202101006.htm
    [21]
    Wang L J, Yin Y, Yao Z Y, et al. Microphysical responses as seen in a stratocumulus aircraft seeding experiment in autumn over the Sanjiangyun National Nature Reserve. Acta Meteor Sinica, 2013, 71(5): 925-939. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QXXB201305012.htm
    [22]
    Wang L J, Yin Y, Li L G, et al. Analyses on typical autumn multi-layer stratiform clouds over the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve with airborne observations. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2013, 37(5): 1038-1058. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK201305007.htm
    [23]
    Sun Y W, Dong X B, Li B D, et al. The physical properties and seeding potential analysis of a low trough cold front cloud system at Mountain Taihang based on aircraft observations. Plateau Meteorology, 2019, 38(5): 971-982. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GYQX201905006.htm
    [24]
    Feng Q J, Li P R, Hou T J, et al. Microphysical characteristics of spring precipitation cold stratiform clouds in Shanxi Province. Transactions of Atmospheric Sciences, 2014, 37(4): 449-458. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-NJQX201404008.htm
    [25]
    Li Z R, Li R Q, Li B Z. Analyses on vertical microphysical characteristics of autumn stratiform cloud in Lanzhou region. Plateau Meteorology, 2003, 22(6): 583-589. doi:  10.3321/j.issn:1000-0534.2003.06.008
    [26]
    Pang C Y, Zhang F W, Zhang J H, et al. The microphysical structure of stratiform cloud in different weather system types in Gansu in summer. Journal of Lanzhou University(Nat Sci Ed), 2016, 52(2): 227-234. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-LDZK201602011.htm
    [27]
    Zheng G G, Chen Y, Chen T Y, et al. The observational study of summer orographic clouds structures of Qilian Mountains. Advances in Earth Science, 2011, 26(10): 1057-1070. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DXJZ201110007.htm
    [28]
    Ma X Q, Chen Y, Zhang G Q, et al. Analysis of topographic cloud on different slope observed by X-band dual-polarized radar. Journal of Arid Meteorology, 2015, 33(4): 675-683. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GSQX201504018.htm
    [29]
    Liu W G, Liu Q J. The numerical simulation of orographic cloud structure and cloud microphysical processes in Qilian Mountains in summer. Part (I): Cloud microphysical scheme and orographic cloud stucture. Plateau Meteorology, 2007, 26(1): 1-15. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GYQX200701000.htm
    [30]
    Shao Y T, Liu Q J, Jing Z J. Numerical simulation on macrophysics and microphysics structure of the orographic cloud and precipitation in summer of the Qilian Mountains. Journal of Arid Meteorology, 2013, 31(1): 18-23. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GSQX201301004.htm
    [31]
    Zhang Q, Sun Z X, Chen L H, et al. Review on the development and utilization of cloud water resources in Qilian Mountains. Arid Land Geography, 2009, 32(3): 381-390. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GHDL200903012.htm
    [32]
    Shi J S, Zhang W, Chen T Y, et al. Raindrop-size distribution characteristics of the northern face of Qilian Mountains in the summer of 2006. Journal of Lanzhou University(Nat Sci Ed), 2008, 178(4): 55-61. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-LDZK200804013.htm
    [33]
    Zhang Y X, Pang C Y, Li Z R, et al. Analysis on microphysical structure of a summer stratus over Qilian Mountain. Arid Meteorology, 2008, 26(4): 41-45. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GSQX200804011.htm
    [34]
    Zhang J, Zhang Q, Tian W S, et al. Remote sensing retrieval and analysis of optical character of cloud in Qilian Mountains. Journal of Glaciology and Geocryology, 2006, 28(5): 722-727. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-BCDT200605014.htm
    [35]
    Cai Z X, Cai M, Li P R, et al. Aircraft observation research on macro and microphysics characteristics of continental cumulus cloud at different development stages. Chinese Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 2019, 43(6): 1191-1203. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK201906001.htm
    [36]
    Wang Y F, Wang R, Wang J J, et al. Cloud microphysical characteristics on a stratiform nephsystem in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China. Arid Land Geography, 2019, 42(6): 1291-1300. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-GHDL201906007.htm
    [37]
    Hong Y C. Research progress of stratiform cloud structure and precipitation mechanism and discussion on artificial precipitation problems. Climatic and Environmental Research, 2012, 17(6): 937-950. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QHYH201206032.htm
    [38]
    Mei H X, Liang X Z, Zeng M Q, et al. Raindrop size distribution characteristics of Nanjing in summer of 2015-2017. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2020, 31(1): 117-128. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20200111
    [39]
    Zhu S C, Guo X L. A case study comparing WRF-model-simulated cloud microphysics and precipitation with aircraft measurements in stratiform clouds with embedded convection in Northern China. Chinese J Atmos Sci, 2015, 39(2): 370-385. https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-DQXK201502012.htm
    [40]
    Wang J, Wang W Q, Wang H, et al. Hydrometeor particle characteristics during a late summer hailstorm in northern Shandong. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2021, 32(3): 370-384. doi:  10.11898/1001-7313.20210309
    • Relative Articles
    • Supplements(0)
    • Cited By
  • 加载中
  • -->

Catalog

    Figures(9)  / Tables(3)

    Get Citation
    PDF
    XML
    Article views (1366) PDF downloads(173) Cited by()
    • Received : 2021-07-19
    • Accepted : 2021-08-25
    • Published : 2021-11-23
    Journal Online
    Contact

    © 2020 Journal of Applied Meteorological Science   京ICP备15006967号-1

    Supported by Beijing Renhe Information Technology Co. Ltd

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return