Measurements and inferences of raindrop canting angles

The canting angle distribution of raindrops derived separately from a 2D video disdrometer and from an S-band advanced polarimetric radar are presented. In the former case, measurements were made in both natural and artificial rain. The canting angles showed a symmetric distribution about 0deg with a standard deviation (sigma_beta) of 7deg-8deg in low wind conditions and 12deg in moderate wind conditions. In the radar-based estimates, the histogram of sigma_beta derived from data obtained during a light stratiform rain event with embedded convection shows the mode to be around 7deg, with a significant positive skewness. Around 16% of occurrences exceeded 10deg and 3.3% exceeded 15deg.