Cloud Microphysical Properties of a Typical Spring Hail Event in Yunnan

Zheng Jiao; Guo Xin; Fu Danhong; Li Yingfa; Guo Xueliang

doi:10.11898/1001-7313.20240205

Vol.35, NO.2, 2024

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Article Navigation > Journal of Applied Meteorological Science > 2024 > 35(2): 182-195

Zheng Jiao, Guo Xin, Fu Danhong, et al. Cloud microphysical properties of a typical spring hail event in Yunnan. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(2): 182-195. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240205.

Citation:

Zheng Jiao, Guo Xin, Fu Danhong, et al. Cloud microphysical properties of a typical spring hail event in Yunnan. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(2): 182-195. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240205.

Zheng Jiao, Guo Xin, Fu Danhong, et al. Cloud microphysical properties of a typical spring hail event in Yunnan. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(2): 182-195. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240205.

Citation:

Zheng Jiao, Guo Xin, Fu Danhong, et al. Cloud microphysical properties of a typical spring hail event in Yunnan. J Appl Meteor Sci, 2024, 35(2): 182-195. DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240205.

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Cloud Microphysical Properties of a Typical Spring Hail Event in Yunnan

DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20240205

1.
Honghe Meteorological Bureau of Yunnan, Mengzi 661199
2.
Beijing Weather Modification Center, Beijing 100089
3.
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029

Received Date: 2023-11-17
Rev Recd Date: 2024-01-25
Publish Date: 2024-03-27

Abstract

Abstract

Synoptic conditions and microphysical formation mechanisms for hail events form the basis for investigating hail suppression technology. There are few relevant studies on hail formation mechanisms in spring in southern China. Most previous theories on hail formation are primarily based on numerical simulations and lack sufficient validation through observations. The atmospheric circulation, stratification, and hail microphysical properties of a typical spring hail event of Honghe in Yunnan on 28 March 2023 are investigated using meteorological and C-band dual-pol radar data. The hail formation mechanisms are compared with those derived from a cloud model with hail-bin microphysics. Results indicate that the synoptic conditions for the hail process are closely associated with the south branch of the westerly winds, which are caused by the blocking effect of the Tibetan Plateau, and the warm moist air carried by the southwesterlies around the western edge of the South Asian tropical high. Due to the relatively weak thermodynamics in spring, small-sized hail below 10 mm is predominant at the surface, with the maximum hail size reaching 20 mm. The microphysical structure of the hail cloud features a warm base and a highly active warm rain process. The dual-polarization radar products of differential reflectivity (Z_DR), specific differential phase (K_DP) and correlation coefficient indicate that during the initial stage of hail formation, the hail formation region consisted of spherical-shaped hail and supercooled raindrops. It suggests that hail embryos are formed through the freezing process of small-sized supercooled raindrops. As the hail embryos descend, the radar reflectivity increased and the particle shape tended to become discoid, indicating that the hail undergoes a growth process through collision with supercooled cloud water during the descent. The shape also changes from spherical to plate-like. it is because during the initial stage of hail formation, raindrops carry to the upper levels by updrafts are relatively small and had spherical shapes, causing their freezing process to form nearly spherical hail embryos. These spherical hail embryos collide with supercooled cloud water and form discoid hailstones during the falling process, which is consistent with shapes of hailstones collected at the surface. Numerical simulations show that hail embryos are primarily formed through homogeneous freezing of supercooled raindrops, and the growth of these embryos depends on accretion with supercooled cloud water, which is well consistent with products by dual-pol radar.
- hail;
- spring;
- formation process;
- dual-pol radar;
- modeling

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References(64)

Figures and Tables

图 1 2023年3月28日08：00天气条件(a)500 hPa位势高度(蓝线，单位：dagpm) 和风场(风羽) 分布，(b)700 hPa层比湿(单位：g·kg^-1) 和风场(风羽) 分布(深蓝色箭头表示西南主导风方向，浅蓝色实线为316 dagpm等高线)，(c)850 hPa层温度场和风场(风羽) 分布

(不同颜色箭头分别表示为冷暖和干湿气流类型)

Fig. 1 Synoptical condition at 0800 BT 28 Mar 2023 (a)potential height (blue solid lines,unit:dagpm) and wind (barbs) at 500 hPa, (b)specific humidity (unit:g·kg^-1) and wind (barbs) (the dark blue arrow denotes the dominant direction of southwesterlies at 700 hPa, the light blue solid line denotes 316 dagpm contour), (c)temperature and wind (barbs) at 850 hPa

(different color arrows denote the cold/warm and dry/wet flow)

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图 2 2023年3月28日17:21云南红河州冰雹云雷达产品

(0 ℃层海拔高度为4225 m)

Fig. 2 Dual-polarization products by Honghe radar for hail cloud at 1721 BT 28 Mar 2013

(0 ℃ layer is located at 4225 m above the sea level)

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Fig. 3 The same as in Fig. 2, but for hail cloud at 1738 BT 28 Mar 2023

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Fig. 4 Simulation of the maximum updraft and downdraft for hail cloud on 28 Mar 2023

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Fig. 5 Simulation of the maximum hydrometeor content for hail cloud on 28 Mar 2023

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Fig. 6 Simulation of maximum number concentration of graupel/hail for various size bins

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图 7 2023年3月28日云南红河州冰雹云反射率因子、水凝物含量和垂直气流速度模拟结果在积分第12分钟和第18分钟的x-z分布

(填色为反射率因子；水平线为环境温度，单位：℃；水凝物含量单位：g·kg^-1；垂直气流速度单位：m·s^-1，其中实线为上升气流速度，虚线为下沉气流速度)

Fig. 7 Simulation of radar reflectivity, hydrometeor mixing ratio and vertical velocity in x-z plane at the 12nd minute and the 18th minute for hail cloud of Honghe in Yunnan on 28 Mar 2013

(the shaded denotes reflectivity the horizontal line denotes environmental temperature, unit:℃; unit of hydrometeor mixing ratios:g·kg^-1;unit of vertical velocity:m·s^-1, the solid line denotes updraft, and the dashed line denotes downdraft)

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Fig. 8 Simulation embryos production rate(a) and growth rate(b) of graupel/hail for hail cloud of Honghe in Yunnan on 28 Mar 2023

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Table 1 Comparison of observed and simulated hail cloud

特征量	观测	模拟
云顶高度/km	12	11.5
云顶温度/℃	<-40	<-40
云底温度/℃	>10	>10
生命史/min	>30	>30
最大回波强度/dBZ	60	>60
最大上升气流速度/(m·s^-1)		24
最大过冷雨水含量/(g·kg^-1)		13
地面最大冰雹尺度/mm	20	25

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