Structure of the melting layer in mesoscale convective system stratiform precipitation

Even though complete melting requires a fairly deep layer, most of the mass melts, and thus most of the cooling occurs in a thin layer above the location of the radar bright band. The layers below the melting layer appear to be decoupled from those above. The ice water content above the melting layer is 2-3 times the liquid water content below the melting layer. The production of a few, very large, aggregates is dramatic after the onset of melting. The radar reflectivity maximum (bright band) is due to these relatively few, very large aggregates that survive to warmer temperatures. The reflectivity maximum is depressed well below the isothermal layer and the level where most of the ice mass is melted. Above the melting layer, small crystals are replenished by a fragementation process. -from Authors