Size distribution of raindrops

Access through your institution Buy or subscribe To the Editor: Villermaux and Bossa1 (hereafter referred to as VB) presented a model to describe bag break-up of large drops (diameter _d_ ≥

6 mm), which yields a drop size distribution consistent with Marshall–Palmer's distribution for rainfall2. Based on this result, and a laboratory demonstration of bag break-up, VB

propose that the equilibrium drop size distribution of natural rainfall is the result of the spontaneous fragmentation of single large drops (_d_ ≥ 6 mm), and that the contribution of

drop–drop interactions such as coalescence and collisional break-up is negligible. This proposition is ill-founded. First, the equilibrium Marshall–Palmer distribution is not representative

of the variability and transient nature of natural rainfall3. That the VB break-up model yields the Marshall–Palmer distribution is therefore not sufficient to establish that it is

physically relevant. Second, field observations show that the number concentration of large drops (_d_ ≥ 6 mm) if observed is extremely small4,5. VB do not address the physics required to

explain the population dynamics of such large drops consistent with the duration, intensity and microstructure of natural rainfall6. Third, the laboratory experiments reported by VB do not

replicate the free-fall conditions of natural rainfall7,8. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to

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support REFERENCES * Villermaux, E. & Bossa, B. _Nature Phys._ 5, 697–702 (2009). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Marshall, J. S. & Palmer, W. McK. _J. Meteorol._ 5, 165–166 (1948).

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2983–2993 (2008). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Low, T. B. & List, R. L. _J. Atmos. Sci._ 39, 1591–1606 (1982). Article  ADS  Google Scholar  * Magarvey, R. H. & Geldart, J. W. _J.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Pratt School of Engineering, Box 90287, 2457 CIEMAS Fitzpatrick Building, Duke University,

Durham, 27708, North Carolina, USA Ana P. Barros & Olivier P. Prat * Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Science, Clemson University, Clemson, 29634, South Carolina,

USA Firat Y. Testik Authors * Ana P. Barros View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Olivier P. Prat View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Firat Y. Testik View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to

Ana P. Barros. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Barros, A., Prat, O. & Testik, F. Size distribution of raindrops. _Nature Phys_ 6, 232

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