Intercomparison of Instruments used for Measurement of Cloud Drop Concentration and Size Distribution

Abstract

Measurements of drop concentration and size distribution with the Clague droplet gun and the Forward Scattering Spectrometer Probe in 21 cumulus clouds on five days show no evidence of systematic differences between the two instruments. Though average drop concentrations and liquid water contents agree well within the estimated probable errors, values of these parameters in individual clouds occasionally show large discrepancies. Ways of reducing probable errors in the FSSP are discussed.