Open AccessModeling of the Melting Layer. Part IV: Brightband Bulk Parameterization
Author(s) -
C. Heyraud,
Wanda Szyrmer,
Stéphane Laroche,
Isztar Zawadzki
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the atmospheric sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.853
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1520-0469
pISSN - 0022-4928
DOI - 10.1175/2007jas2448.1
Subject(s) - bin , snowflake , data assimilation , radar , breakup , computational physics , mechanics , materials science , statistical physics , physics , meteorology , computer science , algorithm , snow , telecommunications
In this paper a simplified UHF-band backscattering parameterization for individual melting snowflakes is proposed. This parameterization is a function of the density, shape, and melted fraction, and is used here in a brightband bulk modeling study. A 1D bulk model is developed where aggregation and breakup are neglected. Model results are in good agreement with detailed bin-model results and simulate the radar brightband observations well. It is shown the model can be seen as an observation operator that could be introduced into a data assimilation scheme to extract information contained in the radar data measurements.