A statistical and physical description of hydrometeor distributions in Colorado snowstorms using a video disdrometer

Winter-storm hydrometeor distributions along the Front Range in eastern Colorado are studied with a ground-based two-dimensional video disdrometer. The instrument provides shape, size, and terminal velocity information for particles that are larger than about 0.4 mm. The dataset is used to determine the form of particle size distributions (PSDs) and to search for useful interrelationships among the governing parameters of assumed distribution forms and environmental factors. Snowfalls are dominated by almost spherical aggregates having near-exponential or superexponential size distributions. Raindrop size distributions are more peaked than those for snow. A relation between bulk snow density and particle median volume diameter is derived. The data suggest that some adjustment may be needed in relationships found previously between temperature and the concentration and slope parameters of assumed exponential PSDs. A potentially useful relationship is found between the slope and shape terms of the gamma PSD model.