Seasonal variations in microphysics of convective and stratiform precipitation over North China revealed by GPM dual-frequency precipitation radar

Utilizing a decade-long observation from the spaceborne dual-frequency precipitation radar, this study investigates the seasonal variations and microphysical characteristics of precipitation in North China. The results elucidate that the mean storm top height (STH) attains its zenith during the summer, potentially linked to the pronounced strong evaporation and convection. An upsurge in STH is frequently correlated with the evolution of precipitation particles of greater dimensions for both convective and stratiform precipitation. This investigation further discerns that the predominant microphysical mechanisms underlying precipitation during the process from altitudes of 3 km to 1 km exhibit significant seasonal variations and are contingent upon the precipitation types. Collision and coalescence processes are identified as the predominant contributors to precipitation formation, whereas evaporative processes and particle size sorting are less significant. For the coalescence process, the lowest is from summer (29.24%) to autumn (38.01%), spring (50.84%) and winter (58.43%). Additionally, this study observes that the altitude of the melting layer in North China(3–4 km) is relatively lower than that in East China and Yangtze-Huai River Valley region(4.5 km), which may be ascribed to the higher latitude, resulting in comparatively lower temperatures aloft and thus a reduced height for the melting layer.