Xiangyu Lin, Haifan Zhang, Xiaofei Li, Qinghong Zhang, Andrew Heymsfield, Kai Bi, Chan-Pang Ng, Chong Wu, Dianli Gong. 2024: Isotopic Analysis for Tracing Vertical Growth Trajectories of Hailstones. Adv. Atmos. Sci., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-024-4211-x
Citation: Xiangyu Lin, Haifan Zhang, Xiaofei Li, Qinghong Zhang, Andrew Heymsfield, Kai Bi, Chan-Pang Ng, Chong Wu, Dianli Gong. 2024: Isotopic Analysis for Tracing Vertical Growth Trajectories of Hailstones. Adv. Atmos. Sci., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-024-4211-x

Isotopic Analysis for Tracing Vertical Growth Trajectories of Hailstones

  • The growth trajectory of hailstones within clouds has remained elusive due to inability to trace them directly, impeding comprehension of the underlying growth mechanisms. This study investigated hailstone vertical growth trajectories by detecting the stable isotope signatures of different hailstone shells as proxies, which allowed us to capture the ambient temperature during hailstone growth. The 2H and 18O compositions were measured in 27 hailstones from nine hailstorms using a cavity ring-down spectrometer. The vertical growth trajectories were obtained by comparing the isotopic compositions of water condensate in clouds, derived from the Adiabatic Model, with those measured in hailstones. Although hailstone growth was primarily observed in the -10°C to -30°C temperature layer, the embryo formation height and subsequent growth trajectories significantly varied among hailstones. Embryos formed over a wide range of temperatures (-8.7°C to -33.4°C); four originated at temperatures above -15°C and 16 originated at temperatures below -20°C, suggesting ice nuclei composed of bioprotein and mineral dust, respectively. Among the 27 measured hailstones, three exhibited minimal vertical movement, sixteen exhibited a monotonic rise or fall, and the remaining eight exhibited alternating up-down trajectories; only one experienced “recycling” during up-down drifting. Trajectory analysis revealed that similar-sized hailstones from a single storm tended to form at similar heights, whereas those larger than 25 mm in diameter exhibited at least one period of upward growth. Vertical trajectories derived from isotopic analysis were corroborated by radar hydrometeor observations.
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