Terrain Impacts on the Microphysical Processes of Deep Convective Storms in Central Argentina

Deep convective storms frequently develop over Central Argentina’s Sierras de Córdoba (SDC) mountain range. Previous analyses of these storms using dual-polarization radar and satellite data have shown that these storms rapidly grow upscale into larger systems near the SDC, resulting in hazardous weather including hail and high precipitation rates. However, questions remain about how the SDC impacts the microphysical processes of these convective systems and their associated hazards. The Colorado State University (CSU) C-band dual-polarization radar “CHIVO” was deployed to the east of the SDC during the 2018-19 RELAMPAGO (Remote sensing of Electrification, Lightning, And Mesoscale/microscale Processes with Adaptive Ground Observations) campaign to investigate these microphysical processes. Using unique radar signatures, with a focus on reflectivity, differential reflectivity , and specific differential phase, microphysical “fingerprints” were analyzed to understand how these precipitating particles changed vertically with height. Our approach divided the radar data into four elevation groupings, beginning with the surface to the highest elevation of the SDC, and compared the fingerprints in those groupings at different elevation levels. During the November 12, 2018 case that experienced widespread convection, there were variations in these microphysical processes with terrain elevation, yet the process of size sorting was the most prevalent across them all. With this result, our work will explore cases where convection occurred over the mountains and those that did not encounter the SDC to compare these microphysical processes with the November case.