Fixed and Mobile Disdrometer Observations During PECAN

Improving scientific understanding of microphysical processes in nocturnal convection and mesoscale convective systems is an important goal of the Plains Elevated Convection At Night (PECAN) experiment. The PECAN field campaign was based in Hays, Kansas from 1 June – 15 July 2015 and a large suite of observations from ground-based radars, soundings, and aircraft provide key measurements for understanding nocturnal convective systems. Additionally, surface microphysical data are needed to understand cold pool formation and evolution, validate radar-retrieved microphysical quantities, and evaluate numerical weather prediction forecasts. To surrogate microphysical information obtained from mobile radar and aircraft observations, a small network of fixed and mobile Parsivel disdrometers were deployed during PECAN. Parsivel disdrometers were located within 20 – 40 km range of the NCAR S-Pol radar. During IOPs, two mobile disdrometers were also deployed within the mobile radar network and targeted regions of mesoscale convective systems. Preliminary comparisons between disdrometer and NCAR S-Pol data will be presented for interesting cases observed during PECAN.