Microphysical Processes

The topic is developed along two main lines with the common goal of improving knowledge of microphysical processes involving clouds and precipitation.

The first studies with multi-platform techniques cloud and precipitation physical structure, using data from disdrometers, radar, satellite, and lightning networks.

The second one develops techniques for estimating precipitation from satellite sensors, with application to hydrology and to the prevention of hydrogeological risks.

Recent results of the first topic led to the founding of the Italian Group of Disdrometry (www.gid-net.it), an infrastructure that networks the disdrometers on the Italian territory. In addition, radar observations of vortices in the wake of an intense cumulonimbus allowed us to hypothesize the formation of Von Karman vortices due to the interaction between wind and cloud updraft. Finally, the structure of clouds that produced Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes, as observed from space by sensors used for astrophysics, was studied from satellites.

The work on precipitation estimation from remote sensors has involved the development of a multisensor algorithm for estimating solid precipitation in Antarctica, also applicable to mid-latitude snowfall. Also under study within the EUMETSAT H-SAF facility (hsaf.meteoam.it) is the precipitation estimation algorithm based on third-generation METEOSAT data, using machine learning algorithms.

Study of the microphysical structure of solid precipitation over Antarctica, with the aim to improve estimation algorithms based on active microwave sensors’ data.

Analysis and estimates of precipitation rate by measuring power attenuation between backhaul antennas of mobile phone networks, to achieve high spatiotemporal resolution maps in an opportunistic way.

Experimental study of the efficacy of solid and liquid hydrometeors in aerosol scavenging, by means ofdisdrometric data and aerosol optical particles counters.