The Properties of Convective Generating Cells Embedded in the Stratiform Cloud on Basis of Airborne Ka-Band Precipitation Cloud Radar and Droplet Measurement Technologies

On the basis of airborne Ka-band precipitation cloud radar (KPR) and droplet measurement technologies (DMT), the dynamic and microphysical characteristics of convective generating cells (GCs) embedded in stratiform clouds initiated by the Huanghuai cyclone on April 22, 2018 were analyzed. First, a total of 36 GCs were observed by KPR in spring in Shandong Province. The results based on the echo intensity, horizontal scale, and echo top height of these GCs show that the average echo intensity of GCs is concentrated at 20 to 30 dBZ, accounting for 69%. The horizontal scale of GCs is concentrated at 15 to 30 km, accounting for 61%. The echo top height of GCs is concentrated at 6 to 8 km, which is 2 to 4 km higher than the surrounding stratiform clouds. Afterward, the microphysical parameters of GCs in mixed-phase cumulus clouds on April 22, 2018 were counted. The results showed that the inner part of GCs is dominated by updraft with the maximum wind speed of 1.35 m s⁻¹ and average updraft of 0.22 m s⁻¹. GCs have high supercooled water content with the maximum of 0.34 g m⁻³ and average of 0.15 g m⁻³. The ice particle concentration in the inner part of GCs is 5.5 times that of its outer part, and the mean diameter of the inner part of GCs is 1.7 times that of its outer part. The images sampled by the cloud image probe showed that the ice particles on the head and tail of GCs were mainly columnar and radial, respectively, whereas the ice particles in the core of GCs were polymers. The growth of ice crystals depended on the accretion and collision processes. The ice crystals formed columns when the supercooled water was insufficient; otherwise, they rapidly formed graupels. The microphysical formation mechanism of precipitation in GCs is different and strongly depends on the supercooled water content. When the supercooled water content of the cloud was sufficient, graupels were rapidly formed, and surface precipitation was formed after they passed through the melting layer. When the supercooled water content of the cloud was insufficient, the formation of precipitation depended on the water vapor deposition and aggregation processes.