A stochastic model of raindrop release: Application to the simulation of point rain observations

SummaryA rainfall simulator has been developed based on simple assumptions on the release of raindrops from cloud bases and on a previously found model of raindrop interarrival time and size distributions at ground level. The simulator is designed so that the main characteristics of rain observed on the ground are preserved: size distribution, interarrival time distribution and autocovariance of drop sizes. Results show that derived characteristics of rain, such as rain rate, are in good agreement with observations.