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Journal of Tropical Oceanography

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Comparative Analysis of Raindrop Size Distribution Characteristics of Typhoon Precipitation over Coastal South China and Islands in the Northern South China Sea

HUANG Chaoying¹, ², CAI Yiping¹, ², LUO Xuyu¹, ², XIAN Xinghe¹, ², SUN Qibin¹, ², WANG Guozhang³, ZHANG Asi⁴*    

  1. 1. Dongguan Meteorological Bureau of Guangdong Province, Dongguan 523086, China;

    2. Dongguan Engineering Technology Research Center of Urban Eco-Environmental Meteorology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academy of Meteorological Research, Dongguan 523086, China;

    3. Sansha Meteorological Bureau of Hainan Province, Sansha 573101, China;

    4. Guangdong Meteorological Observatory, Guangzhou 510630, China


  • Received:2026-08-03 Revised:2026-09-30 Accepted:2026-10-21
  • Supported by:
    Science and Technology Innovation Team of Guangdong Meteorological Bureau (GRMCTD202509-QN02); Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515510022)

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Abstract: This study compares raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics among oceanic typhoons, coastal typhoons, and non typhoon precipitation using observations from seven typhoons at Guangdong coastal sites and Yongxing Island in the South China Sea, together with post flood season rainfall. Raindrops <2 mm dominate typhoon rainfall, with higher number concentrations in oceanic than coastal typhoons. Oceanic typhoons show substantial 4–6 mm drops across rainbands, likely from melting ice particles, while coastal typhoon drops are mostly <4 mm. At a given rain rate, both typhoon types exhibit unimodal lognormal N(D) spectra. Oceanic typhoons have higher concentrations of 1–3 mm and >3 mm drops, whereas coastal typhoons have more <1 mm drops, possibly due to higher coastal aerosol loads. Gamma fitted spectral shapes are similar across typhoon systems, but oceanic typhoons consistently yield higher N(D) than coastal ones, suggesting comparable convective microphysics. Oceanic typhoons also exceed non typhoon in number concentration. Stratiform precipitation dominates coastal typhoons and oceanic non typhoon (occurrence >80%, contribution >40%) but is much lower for oceanic typhoons (58.1% and 8.2%), implying decreasing convection and increasing stratiform during landfall. Drops of 1–2 mm contributes most across all categories. Typhoon stratiform rain consists mainly of <1 mm and 1–2 mm drops, while convective rain is dominated by 1–3 mm and >3 mm drops, with oceanic typhoon convection showing higher contributions for each size class, especially 1–2 mm. The parameters Λ, μ, and N₀ vary significantly with rain rate, rainband, and type; oceanic typhoons have smaller Λ and μ (narrower spectra), while non typhoon has the largest (strongest variability). Compared with other regions, both typhoon types show Z–R relationships with larger A and smaller b; oceanic typhoons have larger A due to larger Dm and smaller N(D).

Key words: Coastal typhoon precipitation, precipitation over the northern South China Sea, non-typhoon precipitation, raindrop size distribution characteristics