Theoretical and Observational Study of Snow-Size Spectra and Snowflake Aggregation Efficiencies

Abstract

Abstract Mean snowflake collection efficiencies can be estimated by studying the height evolution of snow-size spectra in natural precipitation. This was done using coordinated aircraft and Doppler radar measurements of snow-size spectra and analytical and numerical techniques to model the stochastic collection process. For aggregating stellar and dendritic crystals in the temperature range ?15 to ?12°C the estimated mean collection efficiency was 1.4±0.6. Mean snowflake collection efficiencies can be estimated by studying the height evolution of snow-size spectra in natural precipitation. This was done using coordinated aircraft and Doppler radar measurements of snow-size spectra and analytical and numerical techniques to model the stochastic collection process. For aggregating stellar and dendritic crystals in the temperature range ?15 to ?12°C the estimated mean collection efficiency was 1.4±0.6.