SPORT

Statistical Properties of Rainfall in Tasmania

1 November 2024 - 14 December 2025

Lead Scientist: Alain Protat

Observatory: AMF (ARM Mobile Facility 2)

The objective of the Statistical Properties Of Rainfall in Tasmania (SPORT) project is to complement the AMF2 deployment at Kennaook-Cape Grim (CAPE-k) with a micro rain radar (MRR-PRO) mounted on top of one of the ARM containers to locate the MRR-PRO close to the ARM cloud radars (KAZR and MWACR). This will allow for a continuous calibration check of the ARM cloud radars against the MRR-PRO and Parsivel-2 disdrometers. Scientifically, it will add one radar frequency to the analysis of vertical profiles of cloud and precipitation properties (K-band). It will also allow characterization of the statistical properties of rainfall, the efficiency of rainfall microphysical processes (collision, coalescence, evaporation, size sorting), and the relationship between radar observables and drop size distribution (DSD) parameters using a combination of DSD and rainfall rate measurements at ground (disdrometer) and vertical profiles of backscatter, radar reflectivity, and Doppler velocity (ceilometer, lidar, and micro rain radars).