A Comparison Study of Summer Season Raindrop Size Distribution Between Palau and Taiwan, Two Islands in Western Pacific

Abstract

Abstract Raindrop size distribution (RSD) characteristics in summer season rainfall of two observational sites (Taiwan (24°58′N, 121°10′E) and Palau (7°20′N, 134°28′E)) in western Pacific are studied by using five years of impact type disdrometer data. In addition to disdrometer data, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and ERA‐Interim data sets are used to illustrate the dynamical and microphysical characteristics associated with summer season rainfall of Taiwan and Palau. Taiwan and Palau's raindrop spectra showed a significant difference, with a higher concentration of middle and large drops in Taiwan than Palau rainfall. RSD stratified on the basis of rain rate showed a higher mass‐weighted mean diameter ( D m ) and a lower normalized intercept parameter (log 10 N w ) in Taiwan than Palau rainfall. Precipitation classification into stratiform and convective regimes showed higher D m values in Taiwan than Palau. Furthermore, for both the locations, the convective precipitation has a higher D m value than stratiform precipitation. The radar reflectivity‐rain rate relations ( Z = A * R b ) of Taiwan and Palau showed a clear variation in the coefficient and a less variation in exponent values . Terrain‐influenced clouds extended to higher altitudes over Taiwan resulted with higher D m and lower log 10 N w values as compared to Palau.