Characteristics of high velocity small drops in tropical convective rain

The characteristics of high velocity small drops (super-terminal) are observed during different types of rain in a tropical region, Kolkata. Measurements using a Laser Precipitation Monitor (LPM) for several rain events spanning the monsoon season of 2013 at Kolkata, India, shows that the presence of high velocity small drops is significant in tropical convection. Additionally, the fraction of super-terminal drops in natural rain is found to decrease with increasing rain rate. The decrease of superterminal drops in high rain intensities, implies increase in rain drop coalescence over drop break up.