Raindrop Size Distribution (DSD) characteristics: Environmental influences on observed seasonal DSD patterns in Metro Manila, Philippines

Authors

Marco Polo Ibañez Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysics and Astronomical Services Administration
Larry Ger Aragon School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Science, The University of Melbourne, Australia
Raymond Ordinario Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysics and Astronomical Services Administration
James Bernard Simpas Manila Observatory and Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
Maria Obiminda Cambaliza Manila Observatory and Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
Julie Mae Dado Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University Campus, Philippines
Joel Maquiling Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
Elizabeth Reid U.S. Naval Rsearch Laboratory, Monterey, CA, USA

Abstract

The Raindrop Size Distribution (DSD) provides information about the microphysical characteristics of rainfall which is crucial in improving radar rainfall retrieval from remote sensing instruments. This study examined the seasonal DSD characteristics of stratiform and convective rainfall in Metro Manila, Philippines using measurements from an optical disdrometer during the Southwest Monsoon (SWM; June-September), Northeast Monsoon (NEM; October-February), and pre-SWM or Transition period (March-May) from 2018 to 2020. Upper air observations and satellite data were used to describe the potential microphysical and dynamical processes associated with the seasonal variations of DSD in Metro Manila. Results show that small raindrops (< 1 mm) dominate the NEM period, while medium-sized to large raindrops (1-3 mm) are more prevalent during the SWM and Transition periods. The study revealed that observed DSD properties in Metro Manila are linked to the seasonal shifts in cloud structure and thermodynamic characteristics, which in turn impact the variability of the predominant microphysical processes.

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Issue

2024: Proceedings of the 42nd Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2024-1D-02

Section

Complex Systems and Data Analytics

Published

2024-06-25

How to Cite

[1]

MP Ibañez, LG Aragon, R Ordinario, JB Simpas, MO Cambaliza, JM Dado, J Maquiling, and E Reid, Raindrop Size Distribution (DSD) characteristics: Environmental influences on observed seasonal DSD patterns in Metro Manila, Philippines, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 42, SPP-2024-1D-02 (2024). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2024-1D-02.