An Exact Analytical Solution for Raindrop Collision Rate

Abstract

An exact solution was found for the rate of collisions between raindrops by integrating over a finite drop size range. Collision rates computed from this solution were compared to those computed from a solution obtained by integrating over an infinite drop size range. The comparison revealed that, for a given reflectivity factor and intercept, the solution for finite size spectrum width results in collision rates that are higher than those obtained for an infinite drop size range. This work underscores the importance of knowing the size spectrum width in determining raindrop collision rate.