Variations in Raindrop Size Distributions Associated with Diverse Storm Types and Structures

Climatological radar algorithms that diagnose rain rates from radar reflectivity are derived from raindrop size distributions (DSDs) that exhibit large interstorm variations. These algorithms may inaccurately estimate rainfall accumulations if their underlying DSDs vary significantly from the climatology. This study quantifies microphysical variations in DSDs associated with different frontal and non-frontal storm types and structures (e.g., convective, deep convective stratiform, and non-convective stratiform) using a laser-optical Parsivel-2 disdrometer. Representative case studies and preliminary composite analyses of DSDs from September 2013-February 2014 indicate that cold frontal storms and predominantly convective structures produce the greatest concentrations of large diameter drops