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Microphysical and Dielectric Properties of Hydrometeors

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Radar Polarimetry for Weather Observations

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Abstract

Microphysical properties of hydrometeors such as size, shape, orientation, and phase composition, and distribution of these properties over an ensemble of particles determine polarimetric radar variables. In this chapter, an overview of microphysical properties of different hydrometeor types is provided. Different forms of size distributions (SD) of raindrops and ice particles are discussed, and the statistics of the key parameters of SD such as liquid or ice water content, mean volume diameter, and normalized concentration are presented. The chapter contains basic information about density of atmospheric particles and their axis ratios and orientations. Special attention is given to dielectric properties of hydrometeors including basic formulas for dielectric constant of fresh water, solid ice, dry/wet snow, graupel, and hail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA

    Alexander V. Ryzhkov

  2. National Severe Storms Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Norman, OK, USA

    Dusan S. Zrnic

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  1. Alexander V. Ryzhkov
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  2. Dusan S. Zrnic
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Ryzhkov, A.V., Zrnic, D.S. (2019). Microphysical and Dielectric Properties of Hydrometeors. In: Radar Polarimetry for Weather Observations. Springer Atmospheric Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05093-1_4

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