Ambient and intrinsic dependencies of evolving ice-phase particles within a decaying winter storm during IMPACTS

DeLaFrance, Andrew; McMurdie, Lynn A.; Rowe, Angela K.; Heymsfield, Andrew J.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8087-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 14

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8087-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-8087-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 14

Research article

|

29 Jul 2025

Research article |

| 29 Jul 2025

Ambient and intrinsic dependencies of evolving ice-phase particles within a decaying winter storm during IMPACTS

Andrew DeLaFrance, Lynn A. McMurdie, Angela K. Rowe, and Andrew J. Heymsfield

Data sets

NCAR Particle Probes IMPACTS Aaron Bansemer et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/PROBES/DATA101

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) IMPACTS Stacy Brodzik https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/ASOS/DATA101

Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Precipitation Reanalysis for Satellite Validation Product IMPACTS Stacy Brodzik https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/MRMS/DATA101

High Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) IMPACTS Matthew McLinden et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/HIWRAP/DATA101

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) Collection L. A. McMurdie et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/DATA101

Particle Habit Imaging and Polar Scattering Probe (PHIPS) IMPACTS Franz Martin Schnaiter https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/PHIPS/DATA101

Turbulent Air Motion Measurement System (TAMMS) IMPACTS Kenneth L. Thornhill https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/TAMMS/DATA101

NOAA Sounding IMPACTS Jeff Waldstreicher and Stacy Brodzik https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/SOUNDING/DATA201

P-3 Meteorological and Navigation Data IMPACTS Melissa Yang-Martin and Ryan Bennett https://doi.org/10.5067/IMPACTS/P3/DATA101

Short summary

Numerical modeling simulations are used to investigate ice crystal growth and decay processes within a banded region of enhanced precipitation rates during a prominent winter storm. We identify robust primary ice growth in the upper portion of the cloud but decay exceeding 70 % during fallout through a subsaturated layer. The ice fall characteristics and decay rate are sensitive to the ambient cloud properties, which has implications for radar-based measurements and precipitation accumulations.