Open AccessDrop Shapes and Axis Ratio Distributions: Comparison between 2D Video Disdrometer and Wind-Tunnel Measurements
Author(s) -
Merhala Thurai,
Miklós Szakáll,
V. N. Bringi,
Kenneth V. Beard,
Subir K. Mitra,
Stephan Borrmann
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.774
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1520-0426
pISSN - 0739-0572
DOI - 10.1175/2009jtecha1244.1
Subject(s) - disdrometer , skewness , drop (telecommunication) , amplitude , wind tunnel , mechanics , centroid , physics , mathematics , meteorology , computational physics , geometry , optics , statistics , computer science , precipitation , telecommunications , rain gauge
Comparisons of drop shapes between measurements made using 2D video disdrometer (2DVD) and wind-tunnel experiments are presented. Comparisons are made in terms of the mean drop shapes and the axis ratio distributions. Very close agreement of the mean shapes is seen between the two sets of measurements; the same applies to the mean axis ratio versus drop diameter. Also, in both sets of measurements, an increase in the oscillation amplitudes with increasing drop diameter is observed. In the case of the 2DVD, a small increase in the skewness was also detected. Given that the two sets of measurements were conducted in very different conditions, the agreement between the two sets of data implies a certain “robustness” in the mean shape of oscillating drops that may be extended to natural raindrop oscillations, at least in steady rainfall and above the surface layer.