Estimation of Liquid Fraction of Wet Snow by Using 2-D Video Disdrometer and S-Band Weather Radar

oleh: Sung-Ho Suh, Hong-Il Kim, Eun-Ho Choi, Cheol-Hwan You

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-05-01

Deskripsi

Wet snow may cause significant damage to humans and property, and thus, it is necessary to estimate the corresponding liquid fraction (F<sub>L</sub>). Consequently, the F<sub>L</sub> of wet snow was estimated using a novel technique; specifically, the particle shape irregularity (Ir) was estimated through the particle coordinate information obtained using 2-D video disdrometer (2DVD) measurements. Moreover, the possibility of quantitively estimating F<sub>L</sub> via Ir, based on the temperature (T), was examined. Eight snowfall cases from 2014 to 2016 were observed through a 2DVD installed in Jincheon, South Korea, to analyze the dominant properties of physical variables of snowflakes (i.e., the terminal velocity (V<sub>T</sub>), particle density (<i>ρ</i><sub>s</sub>), Ir, and F<sub>L</sub>) and the corresponding relationships according to the T ranges (−4.5 < T (°C) < 2.5) in which wet snow can occur. It was clarified that the volume-equivalent particle diameter (D)–F<sub>L</sub> and D–Ir relationships depended on T, and a relationship existed between Ir and F<sub>L</sub>. The analysis results were verified using the Yong-In Testbed (YIT) S-band weather radar and T-matrix scattering simulation. The D–F<sub>L</sub> relationship was implemented in the scattering simulation, and the results indicated that the simulated reflectivity (Z<sub>S</sub>) was highly correlated with the observed reflectivity (Z<sub>O</sub>) under all T classes. These features can provide a basis for radar analysis and quantitative snowfall estimation for wet snow with various F<sub>L</sub> values.