On September 11, 2023, Professor Alexander Khain continued to engage the academic community at the University of Hyogo with another insightful seminar. Held at the Kobe Campus’s Computational Science Center,  and accessible via Zoom, this session delved into the dynamics of hail formation under varying atmospheric conditions.

Seminar Overview:

Title: Relationship between hail, differential reflectivity, and atmospheric aerosols in a mid-latitude hail storm

Authors: Alexander Khain, Eyal Ilotoviz, Vaughan Phillips, and Alexander Ryzhkov

Seminar Highlights:

Professor Khain’s talk explored several groundbreaking findings from his recent research:

• Advanced Simulation Techniques: Utilizing the spectral bin microphysics model from the Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM), the team simulated mid-latitude hail storms with an unprecedented level of detail in modeling time-dependent melting and freezing processes.
• Impact of Aerosols on Hail: Results showed that higher aerosol concentrations lead to smaller total mass of hail but larger individual hailstones, alongside a significant increase in cumulative rainfall.
• Innovations in Radar Analysis: The seminar also covered how polarimetric radar data, particularly differential reflectivity (ZDR), can be crucial in understanding hail growth patterns and predicting hail storm behaviors.

Discussion and Q&A:

Following the presentation, Professor Khain fielded questions ranging from the technical aspects of the simulations to the implications of these findings for weather forecasting and climate science.

We thank Professor Khain for his continued contributions to our understanding of severe weather phenomena and appreciate all participants for their thoughtful engagement and discussion.