Collaborative Research: Studies of the Microphysical Processes in Ice and Mixed-Phase Clouds and Precipitation Using Multiparameter Radar Observations Combined with Cloud Modeling

冬季风暴对交通、商业、电网和公共安全造成重大干扰。这项研究项目的目标是提供有关冬季暴风雨期间云和降水特性的更好信息，以便更好地预测这些事件。研究人员将使用先进的雷达观测和技术来分析这些数据，研究冬季风暴中影响地面降水类型和数量的各种过程。更好地预报暴风雪对地面和空中旅行特别重要，这项工作与相关业务预报机构有联系。此外，学生将接受雷达气象学技术培训，以确保下一代科学家的进步。研究小组将研究冷季风暴的微物理，重点是多频率、双极化雷达观测的使用。将使用现代天气雷达技术中最先进的工具和显式微物理模型的独特组合，以更好地了解冬季风暴中的微物理，包括树枝生长、边缘形成、高空聚集和融化层中的过程。主要的观测工具将是石溪大学的雷达设施，其重点是Ka波段扫描雷达以及W和Ku波段剖面图雷达。地面测量将包括多角度雪花相机(MASC)、圆度计和社区合作铁路、冰雹和积雪网络(CoCoRaHS)的观测。这项工作的主要目标是：1)利用处理和表示多参数雷达数据的创新技术，探索极化、多频和多普勒雷达测量之间的协同作用，以提供关于冰和混合相云中微物理和运动学过程的信息；2)研究量化冰比重计的新雷达方法，和3)开发一个一维云谱箱模式，结合一个前向雷达操作员，模拟积雪形成的关键微物理过程，并提供建议，以改进这些过程在大体积和光谱箱模式中的参数化。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Winter storms cause major disruptions to transportation, commerce, the power grid and public safety. The goal of this research project is to provide better information on the properties of clouds and precipitation during winter storms so that these events can be better forecast. The researchers will use advanced radar observations, and techniques to analyze that data, to study a variety of processes in winter storms that affect the types and amount of precipitation that falls at the surface. Better predictions of snowstorms are especially important for ground and air travel and this work has connections to the relevant operational forecast agencies. In addition, students will be trained in radar meteorology techniques, ensuring the advancement of the next generation of scientists.The research team will investigate the microphysics of cold-season storms, with a focus on the use of multi-frequency, dual-polarimetric radar observations. A unique combination of state-of-the-art tools in modern weather radar technology and explicit microphysical modeling will be used to derive a better understanding of the microphysics in winter storms, including dendritic growth, riming, aggregation aloft, and processes in the melting layer. The main observational tools will be the radar facilities at Stony Brook University, which are highlighted by the Ka-band scanning radar and W- and Ku-band profiling radars. Ground measurements will include the Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera (MASC), disdrometers, and Community Collaborative Rail, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) observations. The main objectives of the work are to: 1) Explore synergy among polarimetric, multi-frequency, and Doppler radar measurements using innovative techniques for processing and representing multi-parameter radar data to provide information about microphysical and kinematic processes in ice and mixed-phase clouds, 2) Investigate novel radar methods for quantification of ice hydrometers, and 3) Develop a 1D cloud spectral bin model combined with a forward radar operator to simulate key microphysical processes of snow formation and provide recommendations for improving the parameterization these processes in large bulk and spectral bin models.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.