'Size distributions of precipitation particles in frontal clouds.' Comments.

Abstract

In their recent paper, Houze et al. (J.Atmos.Sci., 36, 1979, 156-162) discuss airborne measurements of precipitation (predominately snow) size distributions in winter frontal clouds. They were able to characterize their snow-size spectra in terms of the parameters No and lambda in the exponential distribution N(D) = Noe-lambdaD, where N(D)delta D is the concentration of ice particles in the diameter interval D to D + delta D. Their presentations of the systematic behavior of NO and lambda with temperature is an important addition to the current knowledge of snow growth. The purpose of this note is to comment on their observations in the light of current theory.- Author