ISSN:
1434-4483
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Summary Since 1990 the Laboratory for Atmospheric Physics at the University of León has made use of a network of 250 hailpads spread over an area of 1000 km2 in the province of León (north-western Spain). By the end of 1995, the network had detected 25 hailfalls of more than 15 km2 in area, registered on 13 different days during the summer months. The 25 hailfalls were precipitated over more than 300 separate hailpads, leaving nearly 40 000 measurable prints. The size of each hailstone, whose mass and kinetic energy were taken simply as a function of the diameter of the stone was calculated using the hailpad network. In this way, an estimate has been made of the total quantity of ice which fell in each hailfall (circa 19 000 metric tons on average, although a figure ten times this was calculated for one particular hailstorm). The spatial evolution of the physical variables of the hail, determined from each pad, has also been graphically represented. In addition, the distribution of hailstone sizes has been analysed, and the characteristic distribution parameters calculated. Although exponential distribution is often used, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test of goodness-of-fit shows a better fit for gamma distribution. The information provided by these parameters has been analysed for both distributions, in relation to some specific variables associated with hail. There is a good correlation between total energy and mass precipitated, but the quantity of hail per unit area correlates with the total energy or mass of the precipitation only through the area affected. The size distribution parameters only show good correlations with the maximum hailstone size recorded.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s007040050115
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