HailCam: An Automated Imaging System for Real-Time Measurement of Hail Size Distributions and Fall Rates

Co-located field intercomparisons were conducted at the Weining Hail Suppression Experimental Base of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), located in Guizhou Province (26.9°N, 104.9°E). This study area is characterized by typical karst terrain with rugged relief and frequent severe convective weather, posing rigorous practical tests for the stability, anti-interference and detection accuracy of hail observation instruments in complex underlying surface environments. A co-located OTT Parsivel² laser disdrometer (hereinafter referred to as disdrometer) was deployed alongside the HailCam system as the reference instrument.