Articles | Volume 20, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-193-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-193-2016
Research article
 | 
18 Jan 2016
Research article |  | 18 Jan 2016

Climatological characteristics of raindrop size distributions in Busan, Republic of Korea

S.-H. Suh, C.-H. You, and D.-I. Lee

Abstract. Raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics within the complex area of Busan, Republic of Korea (35.12° N, 129.10° E), were studied using a Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) disdrometer over a 4-year period from 24 February 2001 to 24 December 2004. Also, to find the dominant characteristics of polarized radar parameters, which are differential radar reflectivity (Zdr), specific differential phase (Kdp) and specific attenuation (Ah), T-matrix scattering simulation was applied in the present study. To analyze the climatological DSD characteristics in more detail, the entire period of recorded rainfall was divided into 10 categories not only covering different temporal and spatial scales, but also different rainfall types. When only convective rainfall was considered, mean values of mass-weighted mean diameter (Dm) and normalized number concentration (Nw) values for all these categories converged around a maritime cluster, except for rainfall associated with typhoons. The convective rainfall of a typhoon showed much smaller Dm and larger Nw compared with the other rainfall categories.

In terms of diurnal DSD variability, we analyzed maritime (continental) precipitation during the daytime (DT) (nighttime, NT), which likely results from sea (land) wind identified through wind direction analysis. These features also appeared in the seasonal diurnal distribution. The DT and NT probability density function (PDF) during the summer was similar to the PDF of the entire study period. However, the DT and NT PDF during the winter season displayed an inverse distribution due to seasonal differences in wind direction.

Download
Short summary
This paper was written to find the climatological characteristics of raindrop size distribution (DSD) with respect to the wind direction in Busan, Korea. The data were collected by POSS disdrometer during 4 years (2001–2004). Busan shows the tendency of land-sea breeze. When sea wind blows during rainfall period, mean size and number concentration of raindrop are smaller and larger than that of land wind blows, respectively. It means that the features of DSD depend on the wind direction.