Articles | Volume 26, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3277-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3277-2026
Research article
 | 
03 Mar 2026
Research article |  | 03 Mar 2026

Snow microphysical processes in orographic turbulence revealed by cloud radar and in situ snowfall camera observations

Anton Kötsche, Maximilian Maahn, Veronika Ettrichrätz, and Heike Kalesse-Los

Data sets

Leipzig University W-Band Cloud Radar, Gothic (Colorado), SAIL Campaign Second Winter (15.11.2022-05.06.2023) H. Kalesse-Los et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/2229846

VISSS Raw data from SAIL at Gothic from November 2022 to June 2023 M. Maahn et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/2278627

Surface Meteorological Instrumentation (MET), 2022-11-10 to 2023-06-06, Facility (GUC), Gunnison, CO; AMF2 (main site for SAIL) (M1) J. Kyrouac et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1786358

MWR Retrievals (MWRRET1LILJCLOU), 2022-11-10 to 2023-06-06, ARM Mobile {Facility} (GUC), Gunnison, CO; AMF2 (main site for SAIL) (M1) D. Zhang https://doi.org/10.5439/1027369

Active Remote Sensing of CLouds (ARSCL) product using Ka-band ARM Zenith Radars (ARSCLKAZR1KOLLIAS), 2021-09-01 to 2023-06-06, ARM Mobile Facility (GUC), Gunnison, CO; AMF2 (main site for SAIL) (M1) K. Johnson et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1228768

High Spectral Resolution Lidar Data, a1 Data Level R. Holz et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1462207

Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) and Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS) Instrument Handbook P. Muradyan and R. Coulter https://doi.org/10.5439/1993735

ld (b1) D. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1973058

ceil D. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1497398

interpolatedsonde M. Jensen et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1095316

ARM FY2024 Radar Plan Y.-C. Feng et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1888379

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Short summary
We studied how turbulence affects snowfall in the Colorado Rockies, focusing on a turbulent layer behind Gothic Mountain. Using radar and surface observations, we found turbulence enhances snow growth by causing snowflakes to stick and form extra ice via collisions. Liquid water at cold temperatures further boosts snow formation. This work shows how turbulence shapes mountain snowfall and demonstrates radar-based methods to study precipitation processes.
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