A Microphysical Bulk Formulation Based on Scaling Normalization of the Particle Size Distribution. Part I: Description

Abstract The authors address the problem of optimization of the microphysical information extracted from a simulation system composed of high-resolution numerical models and multiparameter radar data or other available measurements. As a tool in the exploration of this question, a bulk microphysical scheme based on the general approach of scaling normalization of particle size distribution (PSD) is proposed. This approach does not rely on a particular functional form imposed on the PSD and naturally leads to power-law relationships between the PSD moments providing an accurate and compact PSD representation. To take into account the possible evolution of the shape/curvature of the distribution, ignored within standard one- and two-moment microphysical schemes, a new three-moment scheme based on the two-moment scaling normalization is proposed. The methodology of the moment retrieval included in the three-moment scheme can also be useful as a retrieval algorithm combining different remote sensing observati...

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