Raindrop size distributions in convective clouds over Cuba

Raindrop size distributions, measured in the warm sector of convective clou ds over Camaguey, Cuba, are analyzed; a wide range of rainfall rates is pre sent in the dataset. Mean spectra are presented and examined separately for updrafts and downdrafts, with additional information about vertical veloci ties and cloud water content. Large drop sorting has been detected; its sen se and degree depend on rainfall rate and cloud dynamic characteristics. No significant small drop sorting has been found. Mean spectra for individual clouds and for groups of clouds with the same rainfall rate category have been calculated and fitted by different models; the best fits have been obt ained with a least square gamma function model. An alternate analytical pro cedure has been presented, resulting appropriate to estimate rain water con tent and accurate in the sense of mean error. Negative form factors, associ ated with upward concavity are obtained in most cases, because of the prese nce of relatively high concentrations of small and large drops. (C) 1999 Pu blished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.