Studying macro and microphysical phase spaces in thunderstorm clouds: insights for nowcasting techniques

• Grant number: 17/04654-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: May 11, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Maria Assunção Faus da Silva Dias
• Grantee: Micael Amore Cecchini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/14497-0 - Nowcasting of intense thunderstorms and understanding of the physical processes inside clouds: the SOS-CHUVA (Severe Weather Observation System), AP.PFPMCG.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/09082-3 - Particle size distribution characteristics of different ice species in the Gamma phase space, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Deep convective clouds have high impact on modern society given its ability to generate electrification and intense precipitation. However, its predictability is still poor because of the complex nature of the process involving the formation and development of thunderstorm clouds. This project aims to contribute to the nowcasting of such systems by studying the evolution of macro and microphysical properties from its formation until dissipation. The microphysical phase space will be defined through estimates of the hydrometeor size distributions (DSDs), which define most of the microphysical processes in the clouds. The phase space concept is ideal to study DSD variability, given that it can readily represent the whole system, or even a group of systems. The macrophysical phase space to be considered will include measurements such as vertically integrated liquid water content (VIL) and the cloud's center of gravity altitude. The use of both macro- and microphysical phase spaces, together with tracking and hydrometeor classification algorithms will allow a holistic view of thunderstorm development and can potentially help on the development of new nowcasting techniques from a novel scientific perspective. To achieve the goals of this proposal, the measurements of a recently-acquired X-band radar (under SOS-CHUVA project, FAPESP grant 15/14497-0), as well as other pre-installed radars that cover the Campinas-SP region, will be considered with the intent of constructing a dataset storing the life cycle of thunderstorms, which will be confirmed by the new network of hail-detecting pads. The patterns will be compared to those of less intense systems for comparison and will be validated by disdrometer measurements and model runs. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CECCHINI, MICAEL A.; HEYMSFIELD, ANDREW J.; HONEYAGER, RYAN; FIELD, PAUL; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; DA SILVA DIAS, MARIA A. F.. Revisiting the Hail Radar Reflectivity-Kinetic Energy Flux Relation by Combining T-Matrix and Discrete Dipole Approximation Calculations to Size Distribution Observations. JOURNAL OF THE ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, v. 79, n. 7, p. 14-pg., 2022-07-01. (20/13273-9, 17/17047-0, 15/14497-0, 18/09082-3, 17/04654-6)

CECCHINI, MICAEL AMORE; SILVA DIAS, MARIA A. F.; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; MORALES RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS A.; BISCARO, THIAGO. Macrophysical and Microphysical Characteristics of Convective Rain Cells Observed During SOS-CHUVA. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES, v. 125, n. 13, JUL 16 2020. (17/04654-6, 17/17047-0, 15/14497-0)

PARDO, LIANET HERNANDEZ; TOLEDO MACHADO, LUIZ AUGUSTO; CECCHINI, MICAEL AMORE; GACITA, MADELEINE SANCHEZ. Quantifying the aerosol effect on droplet size distribution at cloud top. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, v. 19, n. 11, p. 7839-7857, JUN 12 2019. (17/04654-6, 16/24562-6, 15/14497-0)

YEOM, JAE MIN; YUM, SEONG SOO; MEI, FAN; SCHMID, BEAT; COMSTOCK, JENNIFER; MACHADO, LUIZ A. T.; CECCHINI, MICAEL A.. Impact of secondary droplet activation on the contrasting cloud microphysical relationships during the wet and dry seasons in the Amazon. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, v. 230, DEC 1 2019. (17/04654-6)

MEI, FAN; WANG, JIAN; COMSTOCK, JENNIFER M.; WEIGEL, RALF; KRAEMER, MARTINA; MAHNKE, CHRISTOPH; SHILLING, JOHN E.; SCHNEIDER, JOHANNES; SCHULZ, CHRISTIANE; LONG, CHARLES N.; et al. Comparison of aircraft measurements during GoAmazon2014/5 and ACRIDICON-CHUVA. Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, v. 13, n. 2, p. 661-684, FEB 11 2020. (17/04654-6, 13/05014-0, 09/15235-8)