Advances in Aircraft Measurements of Clouds and Precipitation in China

• Published in: Ying yong qi xiang xue bao = Quarterly journal of applied meteorology Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 641 - 652
• Main Authors: Guo, Xueliang, Fu, Danhong, Guo, Xin, Fang, Chungang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: Beijing China Meteorological Press 01.11.2021; Editorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science
• Subjects: Agglomeration; Aggregation; Airborne sensing; Aircraft; aircraft measurements; Cloud formation; Cloud microphysics; Cloud particles; Cloud structure; Cloud thickness; Clouds; clouds and precipitation; Convective clouds; Crystals; Cumulus clouds; Growth; Inspection; Mathematical models; Moisture content; Numerical models; Precipitation; Precipitation formation; precipitation formation mechanism; Radar; Radar data; Remote observing; Remote sensing; Rime; Snow crystals; Snowfall; Sublimation; Supercooled water; Thickness; Water content; Water vapor; Water vapour; Weather effects; Work platforms; China
• DOI: 10.11898/1001-7313.20210601
• ISSN: 1001-7313

Aircraft observation is an important detection technology for the phase state, distribution and transformation characteristics of cloud particles. China's cloud and precipitation physical aircraft observation began in the 1960s. After more than 60 years of development, it has been used in aircraft platforms, airborne measurement technologies, and cloud microphysical structures. Great progress has been made in the understanding of precipitation formation mechanism and other aspects. It is found that the convective bubble zone in the cumulus mixed cloud has a higher supercooled water content, and the growth of rime plays an important role, which is in line with the "sowing-supply" precipitation formation mechanism. In the cloud area, when the cloud thickness is small, the content of supercooled water is small, and the sublimation, aggregation and growth of ice and snow crystals play a leading role, which does not conform to the "sow-supply" precipitation formation mechanism. When the cloud thickness is large, the supercooled water The content is relatively abundant. Sublimation, aggregation and rime growth play a leading role, which is basically in line with the "sow-supply" precipitation formation mechanism; the formation mechanism of the winter snowfall in northern China is mainly the sublimation-gathering mechanism, only when the water vapor is very sufficient In the case of thick clouds, the rime attachment growth process plays an important role. In recent years, although there have been some achievements in the artificial weather propagation effect, numerical model cloud physical process verification, satellite and radar remote sensing data inspection, and convective cloud structure observation. Progress, but still weak, and urgently need to be strengthened.