Precipitation Microphysical Processes in the Inner Rainband of Tropical Cyclone Kajiki (2019) over the South China Sea Revealed by Polarimetric Radar

Polarimetric radar and 2D video disdrometer observations provide new insights into the precipitation microphysical processes and characteristics in the inner rainband of tropical cyclone(TC)Kajiki(2019)in the South China Sea for the first time.The precipitation of Kajiki is dominated by high concentrations and small(<3 mm)raindrops,which contribute more than 98%to the total precipitation.The average mass-weighted mean diameter and logarithmic normalized intercept are 1.49 mm and 4.47,respectively,indicating a larger mean diameter and a lower concentration compared to the TCs making landfall in eastern China.The ice processes of the inner rainband are dramatically different among different stages.The riming process is dominant during the mature stage,while during the decay stage the aggregation process is dominant.The vertical profiles of the polarimetric radar variables together with ice and liquid water contents in the convective region indicate that the formation of precipitation is dominated by warm-rain processes.Large raindrops collect cloud droplets and other raindrops,causing reflectivity,differential reflectivity,and specific differential phase to increase with decreasing height.That is,accretion and coalescence play a critical role in the formation of heavy rainfall.The melting of different particles generated by the ice process has a great influence on the initial raindrop size distribution(DSD)to further affect the warm-rain processes.The DSD above heavy rain with the effect of graupel has a wider spectral width than the region without the effect of graupel.     

A Comprehensive Observational Analysis for the Effects of Gas Cannons on Clouds and Precipitation

To analyze the effects of gas cannons on clouds and precipitation, multisource observational data, including those from National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis, Hangzhou and Huzhou new-generation weather radars, laser disdrometer, ground-based automatic weather station, wind profiler radar, and Lin''an C-band dual polarization radar, were adopted in this study. Based on the variational dual-Doppler wind retrieval method and the polarimetric variables obtained by the dual-polarization radar, we analyzed the microphysical processes and the variations in the macro - and microphysical quantities in clouds from the perspective of the synoptic background before precipitation enhancement, the polarization echo characteristics before, during and after enhancement, and the evolution of the fine three-dimensional kinematic structure and the microphysical structure. The results show that the precipitation enhancement operation promoted the development of radar echoes and prolonged their duration, and both the horizontal and vertical wind speeds increased. The dual-polarization radar echo showed that the diameter of the precipitation particles increased, and the concentration of raindrops increased after precipitation enhancement. The raindrops were lifted to a height corresponding to 0 to -20 ℃ due to vertical updrafts. Based on the disdrometer data during precipitation enhancement, the concentration of small raindrops (lgNw) showed a significant increase, and the mass-weighted diameter Dm value decreased, indicating that the precipitation enhancement operation played a certain“lubricating”effect. After the precipitation enhancement, the concentration of raindrops did not change much compared with that during the enhancement process, while the Dm increased, corresponding to an increase in rain intensity. The results suggest the positive effect of gas cannons on precipitation enhancement.     

雨滴谱垂直演变特征的微雨雷达观测研究

雨滴谱的垂直变化特征对于认识降水过程、改进模式和雷达定量估计降水等具有重要意义。利用2016年6月1日-9月30日雨量筒、微雨雷达（micro rain radar,简称MRR）和PARSIVEL雨滴谱仪连续4个月的观测数据,在对比3种仪器观测结果的基础上,研究了层状云降水不同降水强度下微物理特征量和雨滴谱垂直演变特征。结果表明:MRR与PARSIVEL雨滴谱仪观测降水强度相关性较好,且两种仪器观测的雨滴谱在中等粒子段（0.5~2.5 mm）表现出较好的一致性,而对于小粒子段（雨滴直径小于0.5 mm）PARSIVEL雨滴谱仪观测的数浓度明显低于MRR。对于弱降水（降水强度R ≤ 0.2 mm·h-1）,液水含量和降水强度随高度降低减小,雨滴在下落过程中蒸发明显。对于较强降水（R>2 mm·h-1）,随高度降低,雷达反射率因子增大,小滴数浓度减小的同时大滴数浓度增加明显,雨滴下落过程碰并作用明显。所有高度直径不超过0.5 mm的小滴对数浓度贡献均为最大。高层雨滴直径不小于1 mm的小粒子对降水强度的贡献可达50%,小粒子对降水强度贡献随高度降低减小。     

Precipitation Microphysical Characteristics of Typhoon Ewiniar (2018) before and after Its Final Landfall over Southern China

In this paper, the evolution of the microphysical characteristics in different regions(eyewall, inner core, and outer rainbands) and different quadrants [downshear left(DL), downshear right(DR), upshear left(UL), and upshear right(UR)]during the final landfall of Typhoon Ewiniar(2018) is analyzed using two-dimensional video disdrometer and S-band polarimetric radar data collected in Guangdong, China. Due to the different types of underlying surfaces, the periods before landfall(mainly dominated ...     

Raindrop Size Distribution Parameters Retrieved from Xinfeng C-Band Polarimetric Radar Observations

The objective of this research was to acquire a raindrop size distribution (DSDs) retrieved from C-band polarimetric radar observations scheme for the first time in south China.An observation period of the precipitation process was selected,and the shape-slope (μ-Λ) relationship of this region was statistically analyzed using the raindrop sample observations from the two-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) at Xinfeng Station,Guangdong Province.Simulated data of the C-band polarimetric radar reflectivity Z_(HH)and differential reflectivity Z_(DR)were obtained through scattering simulation.The simulation data were combined with DSD fitting to determine the Z_(DR)-Λand log_(10)(Z_(HH)/N_0)-Λrelationships.Using Xinfeng C-band polarimetric radar observations Z_(DR)and Z_(HH),the raindrop Gamma size distribution parametersμ,Λ,and N_0were retrieved.A scheme for using C-band polarimetric radar to retrieve the DSDs was developed.This research revealed that during precipitation process,the DSDs obtained using the C-band polarimetric radar retrieval scheme are similar to the 2DVD observations,the precipitation characteristics of rainfall intensity (R),mass-weighted mean diameter (D_m) and intercept parameter (N_w) with time obtained by radar retrieval are basically consistent with the observational results of the 2DVD.This scheme establishes the relationship between the observations of the C-band polarimetric radar and the physical quantities of the numerical model.This method not only can test the prediction of the model data assimilation system on the convective scale and determine error sources,but also can improve the microphysical precipitation processes analysis and radar quantitative precipitation estimation.The present research will facilitate radar data assimilation in the future.     

Variability of Raindrop Size Distribution during a Regional Freezing Rain Event in the Jianghan Plain of Central China

The characteristics of the raindrop size distribution(DSD) during regional freezing rain(FR) events that occur throughout the phase change(from liquid to solid) are poorly understood due to limited observations. We investigate the evolution of microphysical parameters and the key formation mechanisms of regional FR using the DSDs from five disdrometer sites in January 2018 in the Jianghan Plain(JHP) of Central China. FR is identified via the size and velocity distribution measured from a disdrom...     

江淮梅雨期极端对流微物理特征的双偏振雷达观测研究

为研究梅雨期极端对流系统的微物理特征,利用2013—2014年江淮梅雨期间南京溧水S波段双偏振雷达探测资料和地面自动站小时降水资料,统计分析了两类极端对流降水系统的微物理特征及差异。这两类极端对流系统的定义基于地面降水强度和雷达回波顶高,分别为所有对流中降水强度最强的1%（R类:小时降水强度>46.2 mm/h）和对流发展高度最高的1%（H类:20 dBz回波顶高>14.5 km）。结果显示这两类极端对流系统仅有30%的样本重合,显示了二者之间的弱相关性。对于相同的反射率因子Z_H,R类极端对流系统的近地面差分反射率因子Z_DR通常较H类极端对流小约0.2 dB,表明R类极端对流具有较小的平均粒径。结合双偏振雷达反演的粒子大小和相态分布显示,虽然两类极端对流都表现出海洋性对流降水特征,但R类极端对流较H类极端对流的总体雨滴粒径更小而数浓度更高,导致R类极端对流系统的地面降水更强。与R类极端对流系统相比,H类极端对流系统的上升运动更强,将更多的水汽和过冷水输送到0℃层以上,有利于形成更大的冰相粒子（如霰粒子等）,并通过融化形成大雨滴。以上研究表明,梅雨期降水强度和对流发展深度并没有必然的联系,极端降水主要是中等高度的对流引起。      

QVP方法在双偏振雷达冬季降水观测中的应用

双偏振雷达是研究降水微物理过程的重要探测设备,为研究我国东部沿海地区冬季降水的微物理特性,选取2019—2020年不同天气背景下（包含相态转换）影响上海的冬季降水过程,基于上海南汇WSR-88D双偏振雷达资料,采用准垂直廓线（QVP）方法反演3次降水过程的反射率因子Z_H、差分反射率Z_DR和相关系数ρ_hv的高度-时间廓线。基于QVP,结合探空、再分析资料、地面自动气象站和雨滴谱数据,分析过程时段内融化层高度变化、云中粒子微物理特征,同时借助云雷达观测比对QVP方法的实际效果。结果表明:QVP方法反演的廓线可以体现贝吉龙过程的发生以及融化层高度的变化,并能够有效区分过程时段内的凇附和聚合过程。与此同时,对于非连续性或非均匀性质的降水系统,有针对性地选择方位利用QVP方法进行处理可准确获取重点关注区域降水云系中的微物理过程变化。综上所述,QVP方法反演的高度-时间廓线能够用于降水相态的快速诊断及降水粒子从空中到地面演变的微物理过程分析,为冬季降水相态短时临近预报提供依据。     

Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation during Pre-monsoon,Monsoon, and Post-monsoon Periods over the South China Sea

Raindrop size distribution (RSD) characteristics over the South China Sea (SCS) are examined with onboard Parsivel disdrometer measurements collected during marine surveys from 2012 to 2016. The observed rainfall is divided into pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods based on the different large-scale circumstances. In addition to disdrometer data, sounding observation, FY-2E satellite, SPRINTARS (Spectral Radiation-Transport Model for Aerosol Species), and NCEP reanalysis datasets are used to illustrate the dynamical and microphysical characteristics associated with the rainfall in different periods. Significant variations have been observed in respect of raindrops among the three periods. Intercomparison reveals that small drops (D < 1 mm) are prevalent during pre-monsoon precipitation, whereas medium drops (1?3 mm) are predominant in monsoon precipitation. Overall, the post-monsoon precipitation is characterized by the least concentration of raindrops among the three periods. But, several large raindrops could also occur due to severe convective precipitation events in this period. Classification of the precipitation into stratiform and convective regimes shows that the lg(N_w) value of convective rainfall is the largest (smallest) in the pre-monsoon (post-monsoon) period, whereas the D_m value is the smallest (largest) in the pre-monsoon (post-monsoon) period. An inversion relationship between the coefficient A and the exponential b of the Z?R relationships for precipitation during the three periods is found. Empirical relations between D_m and the radar reflectivity factors at Ku and Ka bands are also derived to improve the rainfall retrieval algorithms over the SCS. Furthermore, the possible causative mechanisms for the significant RSD variability in different periods are also discussed with respect to warm and cold rain processes, raindrop evaporation, convective activities, and other meteorological factors.     

Simulation Study About the Influence of Atmospheric Stratification on Lightning Activities

A 2D model about charging and discharging processes in thundercloud is used to simulate three differential atmospheric stratifications resulting in discrepant thunderstorm processes in Beijing region. The dynamic and microphysical processes in thunderstorm and their influence on lightning activities are also discussed.The results indicate that ascending velocity and water vapor axe the most important factors to influence lightning activities. At the same time, they affect each other and are together controlled by atmospheric stratification. The magnitude of the ascending velocity determines the intensity of storm and the time when the thunderstorm matured. The thunderstorm with strong updrafts can reach a large height in a short time. Strong persistent updrafts and sufficient water vapor which help to generate more ice phase hydrometeors that directly influence charging and discharging process will prolong the mature stage of the thunderstorm and thereby enhance lightning activities. Though the big density of ice phase hydrometeors can be formed, it is difficult to sustain a long time in the condition of strong updrafts and scant water vapor. Under the condition of weak updrafts and suffcient water vapor in the whole levels, it is easy to form warm cloud process in which the ice phase process and lightning activities are weak. The favorable stratification conditions for strong lightning activities are the sufficient vapor in the lower atmosphere,moderate humidity in the mid troposphere, big instability energy and some suitable convective inhibition.Through calculating some atmospheric instability parameters, it is indicated that convective instability index smaller than -10℃ (negative means instable), convective available potential energy larger than 1000 J kg-1,convective inhibition larger than 40 J kg-1, the 700-hPa potential equivalent temperature larger than 340 K and the 35%-85% humidity in the mid troposphere (700-400 hPa) are the advantageous conditions for strong lightning activities.     

2015—2017年夏季南京雨滴谱特征

利用2015—2017年夏季南京地区的雨滴谱数据,对南京在梅雨开始前、梅雨期及梅雨结束后3个不同时段降水的宏微观特征进行分析发现:梅雨开始前对流活动强度偏弱,但对流降水的雨滴平均质量加权直径、分钟级强降水频率和逐小时累积短时强降水的频率为3个时段中最高;天气尺度强迫提供的有利于降水的持续性条件、弱对流强度下充分的凝结过程及微物理相关过程对云粒子的损耗偏弱,是有利于该时段大雨滴形成和降水效率提高的重要因素。梅雨结束后,高温高湿环境易产生剧烈对流活动,导致对流降水的大尺度雨滴样本比例及分钟级极端降水发生频率位于3个时段的首位。层云降水时,梅雨期降水频率、降水率及雨滴尺度平均值均位于首位,小尺度雨滴样本比例最低;有利天气尺度强迫条件下的充分碰并作用是主要原因之一。不同时段雨滴谱谱形参数（μ）与斜率（Λ）之间的二项式关系式的差异与μ的取值有关。     

Comparison of Microphysical Characteristics of Warm-sector, Frontal and Shearline Heavy Rainfall During the Pre-summer Rainy Season in South China

Warm-sector heavy rainfall (WR), shear-line heavy rainfall (SR), and frontal heavy rainfall (FR) are three types of rainfall that frequently occur during the pre-summer rainy season in south China. In this research, we investigated the differences in microphysical characteristics of heavy rainfall events during the period of 10-15 May 2022 based on the combined observations from 11 S-band polarimetric radars in south China. The conclusions are as follows: (1) WR has the highest radar echo top height, the strongest radar echo at all altitudes, the highest lightning density, and the most active ice-phase process, which suggests that the convection is the most vigorous in the WR, moderate in the FR, and the weakest in the SR. (2) Three types of rainfall are all marine-type precipitation, the massweighted mean diameter (Dm, mm) and the intercept parameter (Nw, mm-1 m-3 ) of the raindrops in the WR are the largest. (3) The WR possesses the highest proportion of graupel compared with the FR and SR, and stronger updrafts and more abundant water vapor supply may lead to larger raindrops during the melting and collision-coalescence processes. (4) Over all the heights, liquid and ice water content in the WR are higher than those in the SR and FR, the ratio of ice to liquid water content in the WR is as high as 27% when ZH exceeds 50 dBZ, definitely higher than that in the SR and FR, indicating that the active ice-phase process existing in the WR is conducive to the formation of heavy rainfall.     

安徽滁州夏季一次飑线过程的雨滴谱特征

选取2014年7月31日安徽滁州一次飑线过程,使用地基雨滴谱仪资料分析此次过程的雨滴谱特征。根据雷达回波和地面降水强度将这次降水过程划分为对流降水、过渡性降水和层云降水,并以10 mm·h-1为临界值将对流降水进一步划分为对流前沿降水、对流中心降水、对流后沿降水。结果表明:对流中心降水、过渡性降水、层云降水的质量加权直径均比较稳定,平均值分别为1.8 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.7 mm。对流降水的标准化截距相比层云降水更大。对流中心降水各粒径段雨滴数浓度均较高;层云降水小雨滴浓度较低,且有少量大雨滴;过渡性降水由小雨滴组成。当雨水含量相同时,层云降水的质量加权直径相比对流降水更大。当雨强相同时,层云降水的反射率因子相比对流中心降水更大。更为精细的降水类型划分可有效改善Z-I关系。     

C-FMCW雷达反演飑线大气垂直速度和雨滴谱

垂直指向探测的C波段调频连续波雷达具有高灵敏度和高时空分辨率等特点, 以2016年5月广东两次飑线降水为例, 结合同址K波段微雨雷达和地面激光雨滴谱仪, 探究C波段调频连续波雷达两种反演大气垂直速度(V_a)和雨滴谱的方法:粒子平均下落末速度(V_t)-反射率因子(Z_e)关系法(简称经验关系法)和小粒子示踪法(简称示踪法)。结果表明:经验关系法和示踪法反演的上升和下沉气流的时空分布基本一致;当地面雨强R≤1 mm·h-1, 经验关系法反演的雨滴谱与雨滴谱仪观测结果更接近;当110 mm·h-1时, 两种方法反演的中雨滴数浓度与雨滴谱仪观测结果接近, 但大雨滴数浓度较低;从各物理量时序变化看, 经验关系法反演结果更接近雨滴谱仪观测结果。     

毫米波云雷达功率谱密度数据的检验和 在弱降水滴谱反演中的应用研究

本文首先利用数值模拟的方法,分析了利用毫米波云雷达功率谱密度反演雨滴谱时,降水粒子米散射效应、空气湍流、空气上升速度等对雨滴谱和液态水含量等参数反演的影响;建立了功率谱密度处理及其直接反演雨滴谱、液态水含量、降水强度和空气上升速度的方法;并利用2012年7月在云南腾冲观测的二次弱降水数据,采用毫米波雷达和Ku波段微降水雷达观测的回波强度、径向速度垂直廓线以及780 m高度上的功率谱密度对比的方法,以及毫米波云雷达观测的780 m高度上功率谱密度、回波强度与地面雨滴谱计算得到的这些量的对比方法,分析了毫米波雷达数据的可靠性;并将780 m高度上毫米波雷达反演的雨滴谱与地面雨滴谱数据进行了对比,分析了毫米波雷达反演的雨滴谱的准确性;分析了毫米波雷达回波强度偏弱的原因,讨论了该高度以下降水对毫米波雷达衰减的影响。结果表明:空气湍流对弱降水微物理参数反演影响不大,而空气上升速度和米散射效应均对反演结果有一定影响;毫米波雷达观测到的径向速度和功率谱密度与微降水雷达比较一致,回波强度的垂直廓线的形状与微降水雷达也比较一致,但毫米波雷达观测的回波强度偏弱;与雨滴谱计算值相比,毫米波雷达观测的低层的回波强度也偏弱,天线上的积水是造成毫米波雷达回波强度变弱的主要原因。毫米波雷达观测的低层的功率谱密度与地面雨滴谱观测的数据形状比较一致,但有一定的位移。毫米波雷达反演的雨滴谱与地面观测的谱型和粒子大小也比较一致。这些结果初步验证了毫米波雷达观测的功率谱密度及其反演方法的可靠性。     

伊犁河谷汛期一场短时强降水雨滴谱特征分析

利用常规地面、高空资料、新一代天气雷达资料、雨滴谱资料,对2012年8月3日发生在伊犁河谷的一次较大范围暴雨的天气背景、雷达回波特征和降雨微物理特征等进行深入分析。结果表明,200hPa西西伯利亚西风槽、500hPa中亚低涡和地面冷锋是这次强降雨过程的主要影响系统。河谷喇叭口地形对气流的机械挤压、东高西低地形对对流的触发、地形强迫抬升对对流和降水的增强具有重要影响。这场降水过程属于积层混合云降水,其中大面积的层状云中嵌有多个对流云团,这些云团连接在一起就构成了对流性雨带,通过对暴雨雨滴谱演变分析得出,这次暴雨主要降水由对流性云团造成,对流云团微物理结构存在明显的不均匀性,其中存在多个强降水中心,其水平尺度多维持在10km左右,持续时间维持在5分钟到10分钟之内,降水集中且雨滴数浓度较高,一般在1000m-1个以上,雨滴谱宽及分布差异很大,小于1mm粒子数浓度很高,对雨强的贡献占两成以上。     

南京地区雨滴谱参数的详细统计分析及其在天气雷达探测中的应用

雨滴谱包含了降雨的丰富信息,不仅能反映雨滴群的微物理特性,也能反映降雨类型、降雨强度等宏观特性,并且在雷达气象领域也有重要的价值。论文对2015和2016年度南京地区32次降雨过程的雨滴谱资料进行了处理、并对多种雨滴参数进行了详细的统计和分析,拟合了层状云降雨、对流云降雨以及积层混合云降雨的雨滴谱Gamma分布参数。另外,还基于雨滴谱数据拟合了雷达反射率因子Z与降雨强度R的Z-R关系,计算了差分反射率Z_DR、相位常数K_DP以及衰减参数,并利用衰减参数进行了C波段雷达回波的衰减订正试验。结果表明:（1）层状云降雨的各微物理参数比较稳定,积雨云的变化剧烈;层云降雨和积层混合云降雨的中雨滴、积雨云降雨的大雨滴对雷达反射率因子的贡献最大。（2）积雨云降雨的滴谱最宽,层状云降雨的最窄。（3）利用依据雨滴谱数据拟合的三类降雨Z-R关系,可以一定程度地提高雷达估测降雨的精度。（4）利用基于雨滴谱数据拟合的衰减系数,有效地进行了C波段双偏振雷达回波强度的衰减订正,体现了统计参数和拟合参数准确性。     

Analysis of the Microphysical Properties of a Stratiform Rain Event Using an L-Band Profiler Radar

This paper investigates spatial and temporal distributions of the microphysical properties of precipitating stratiform clouds based on Doppler spectra of rain particles observed by an L-band profiler radar.The retrieval of raindrop size distributions（RSDs） is accomplished through eliminating vertical air motion and isolating the terminal fall velocity of raindrops in the observed Doppler velocity spectrum.The microphysical properties of raindrops in a broad stratiform region with weak convective cells are studied using data collected from a 1320-MHz wind profiler radar in Huayin,Shaanxi Province on 14 May 2009.RSDs and gamma function parameters are retrieved at altitudes between 700 and 3000 m above the surface,below a melting layer.It is found that the altitude of the maximum number of raindrops was closely related to the surface rain rate.The maximum number of large drops was observed at lower altitudes earlier in the precipitation event but at higher altitudes in later periods,suggesting decreases in the numbers of large and medium size raindrops.These decreases may have been caused by the breakup of larger drops and evaporation of smaller drops as they fell.The number of medium size drops decreased with increasing altitude.The relationship between reflectivity and liquid water content during this precipitation event was Z = 1.69×10~4M~（1.5）,and the relationship between reflectivity and rain intensity was Z = 256I~（1.4）.     

Characterization of tropical precipitation using drop size distribution and rain rate-radar reflectivity relation

Characterization of precipitation is important for proper interpretation of rain information from remotely sensed data. Rain attenuation and radar reflectivity (Z) depend directly on the drop size distribution (DSD). The relation between radar reflectivity/rain attenuation and rain rate (R) varies widely depending upon the origin, topography, and drop evolution mechanism and needs further understanding of the precipitation characteristics. The present work utilizes 2 years of concurrent measurements of DSD using a ground-based disdrometer at five diverse climatic conditions in Indian subcontinent and explores the possibility of rain classification based on microphysical characteristics of precipitation. It is observed that both gamma and lognormal distributions are performing almost similar for Indian region with a marginally better performance by one model than other depending upon the locations. It has also been found that shape-slope relationship of gamma distribution can be a good indicator of rain type. The Z-R relation, Z = AR^b, is found to vary widely for different precipitation systems, with convective rain that has higher values of A than the stratiform rain for two locations, whereas the reverse is observed for the rest of the three locations. Further, the results indicate that the majority of rainfall (>50%) in Indian region is due to the convective rain although the occurrence time of convective rain is low (<10%).     

Investigating Lightning Characteristics through a Supercell Storm by Comprehensive Coordinated Observations over North China

Electrical characteristics of an isolated supercell storm observed on 13 June 2014 over Beijing were investigated using lightning data obtained from the Beijing Lightning Network, radar reflectivity, and hydrometeor retrievals during the 6-h lifetime. Positive cloud-to-ground(+CG) lightning took a high percentage of CG lightning. Before and during a hail event,+CG lightning was more frequent than negative cloud-to-ground(-CG) lightning, except that +CG lightning took a high percentage at the beginning and in the dissipating stage. After the hail event ended,-CG lightning dominated and reached its maximum value. An analysis of hydrometeors retrieved by X-band polarimetric radar revealed that the discharge concentrated in the convective region with graupel particles and hailstones, whereas graupel, snow and ice crystals in the stratiform region. Lightning radiation sources were located mainly in the convective region, some of which were distributed along a gradient of radar reflectivity from the convective region to the stratiform region. The indication is that the supercell demonstrated an inverted tripole charge structure before the hail event, which converted to a normal tripole structure after the hail event.