Freezing Temperatures of Lab-Simulated and Real Rainwater Samples
Abstract
Rain is highly variable on all resolvable spatial and temporal scales. Even individual droplets have different sizes, shapes, terminal fall speeds, and compositions. Disdrometers are instruments that measure drop-to-drop variability in most of these parameters, However, variability in drop composition is still not well characterized.
Here, we focus on freezing properties of individual drops. A custom system was developed that allows for single drop generation. This system creates drops "on-demand" and can be altered to create drops of varying size. Further, the created drops can be pure water or spiked with inorganic or organic compounds. The freezing properties of the generated drops are studied using a freezing assay to explore how drop size and composition may alter the nucleating properties of the simulated rain drops. Freezing statistics from generated drops are also compared to the freezing statistics of natural rainwater captured in multiple rain events occurring in Charleston, South Carolina. From these results, we comment on plausible relationships between drop size, drop composition, meteorological conditions, and the resulting freezing properties.- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFM.A45P2071L