Raindrop Microphysics in Warm Rain Precipitation Features Inferred from 6-Year GPM Dual Frequency Radar Retrievals

This study aims to examine the raindrop microphysics in warm rain systems by using spaceborne Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) retrievals. First, using the Precipitation Feature (PF) database created from the Global Precipitation Measurement satellites (GPM) products from 2015-2021, the Warm Rain Precipitation Features (WRPF) with a minimum radar echo top temperature greater than or equal to 0॰C were selected. The maximum mass-weighted diameter (Dm) and number concentration (Nw) of raindrop size distribution, which were derived using DPR observations, are examined in each WRPF at four altitude levels from 1 to 4 km. Based on the histogram of maximum Dm, the drop size ranges of 0-1 mm, 1-2 mm, and 2-5 mm are categorized as small, average, and large drops respectively. It is found that there are regional preferences from WRPFs having large and small Dm in the tropics, i.e., North and South edges of the Eastern Pacific ITCZ and the Western Caribbean Sea, with areas experiencing large raindrops at 4km. In this presentation, the geographical distribution and seasonal variations of the WRPFs with large and small Dm values are shown. The properties of these WRPFs are further investigated and their favorable thermodynamic environments are discussed.