TY - JOUR AU - Joss, Jüürg AB - The characteristics of a prototype optical disdrometer are presented. Particles are detectable in the diameter range from 0.3 to 30 mm having velocities of up to 20 m s −−1 . Advantages of the new system are (i) it is easy to handle, robust, and low cost, allowing a cluster of instruments to investigate the spatial and temporal fine-scale structure of precipitation; (ii) it provides reliable detection of the range of small drops; and (iii) it allows the possibility of snow measurements. Results of rain measurements are compared with data from a Joss––Waldvogel disdrometer and a Hellmann rain gauge. Furthermore, some snow measurements are presented and compared with results of a research spectrometer. The overall agreement is good. The repeatability of particle size estimation was checked in the diameter range between 1.4 and 8.0 mm and yielded a standard deviation of less than 5%%. For drop velocities the standard deviation varies between 25%% (0.3-mm drops) and 10%% (5-mm drops). The optical disdrometer can also serve as a present weather sensor, detecting and differentiating among rain, snow, drizzle, graupel, hail, and the absence of precipitation. TI - An Optical Disdrometer for Measuring Size and Velocity of Hydrometeors JO - Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology DO - 10.1175/1520-0426(2000)017<0130:AODFMS>2.0.CO;2 DA - 1998-09-15 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/american-meteorological-society/an-optical-disdrometer-for-measuring-size-and-velocity-of-hydrometeors-UIw8dxQUWc SP - 130 EP - 139 VL - 17 IS - 2 DP - DeepDyve ER -