On the Response of Radar-Derived Properties to Hygroscopic Flare Seeding

Abstract

Numerical calculations using a cloud model with detailed microphysics are conducted to investigate the possible effects of hygroscopic flare seeding on the changes in the spectra of hydrometeors and the resulting radar-derived properties, such as storm rain mass, rain flux, and rainfall amount. The results indicate that, in continental clouds, seeding can significantly change the distribution functions of the precipitation particles, the radar reflectivity?rainfall (Z?R) relationship, and the radar-derived properties. Therefore, different Z?R relationships derived respectively from unseeded and seeded clouds should be used to estimate properly the effects of seeding with hygroscopic flares. The results also show that the effects of hygroscopic seeding on maritime clouds are small and there is little difference in the Z?R relationship and the precipitation properties between the seeded and the unseeded cases.