High Ice Water Content Associated with a Darwin, Austrailia, Mesoscale Convective System

A mesoscale convective complex that occurred during the 2014 Darwin, Australia, flight campaign is examined via a three-dimensional, numerical simulation. The focus of the study is to better understand the presence and development of High Ice Water Content (HIWC) that was observed in the actual storm. Although peak values of ice water content may occur early in the storm lifetime, large areas of high concentrations expand with time and persist even when the storm tops begin to warm. The storm canopy which contains HIWC, has low radar reflectivity factor and is fed by an ensemble of regenerating thermal plumes. Detection via weather radar of the aviation hazard associated HIWC is challenging due the low values of radar reflectivity factor.