Abstract
Raindrops falling into a wind-shear zone do not adjust their horizontal speeds immediately to the new wind. Thus, stresses develop which accelerate the air. The effect of raindrops falling into a layer with a logarithmic wind profile is investigated numerically. We find the adjustment of the wind to this situation to be quite small and only barely detectable, even in heavy rain conditions. The effect on the stress distribution is greater. Stress variations of 10–20 % and greater in the lowest 10 m are possible under certain conditions.
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Caldwell, D.R., Elliott, W.P. The effect of rainfall on the wind in the surface layer. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 3, 146–151 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033915
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033915