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Hydrometeor loading

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Hydrometeor loading is the induced drag effects on the atmosphere from a falling hydrometeor. When falling at terminal velocity, the value of this drag is equal to grh, where g is the acceleration due to gravity and rh is the mixing ratio of the hydrometeors. Hydrometeor loading has a net-negative effect on the atmospheric buoyancy equations.[1] As the hydrometeor falls toward the surface, the surrounding air provides resistance against the acceleration due to gravity, and the air in the vicinity of the hydrometeor becomes denser.[2] The increased weight of the atmosphere can support a present downdraft or even cause a downdraft to occur.[3] Hydrometeor loading can also lead to increased high pressure inside of a mesohigh in a thunderstorm.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Markowski, Paul; Yvette Richardson (2010). Mesoscale Meteorology in Midlatitudes. West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-470-74213-6.
  2. ^ Asnani, G.C.; M. K. Rama Varma Raja (March 2000). "A New Hypothesis for Layers of High Reflectivity Seen in MST Radar Observations". arXiv:physics/0003028v1.
  3. ^ Geerts, B; E. Linacre; L. Oolman. "Microbursts". Learning about weather and climate: some short articles. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  4. ^ Sanders, Frederick; Kerry A. Emanuel (February 1977). "The Momentum Budget and Temporal Evolution of a Mesoscale Convective System". Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. 34 (2): 322–330. Bibcode:1977JAtS...34..322S. doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1977)034<0322:TMBATE>2.0.CO;2.