Climatology of Cyclogenesis Mechanisms in the Mediterranean

Trigo, Isabel F.; Bigg, Grant R.; Davies, Trevor

doi:10.1175/1520-0493(2002)130<0549:cocmit>2.0.co;2

Cited by 321 publications

(298 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Nevertheless, latent heat release is also important for cyclogenesis intensification, especially when high SSTs destabilize air masses and favor the release of latent heat (Trigo et al, 2002). Such an effect seems to be quite important in the eastern Mediterranean region (Alpert and Ziv, 1989;Shay-El and Alpert, 1991).…”

Section: A Sanna Et Al: Effect Of a High-resolution Marine Model Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its peculiar latitudinal location, in a transitional area between tropical and mid-latitude variability and its complex geometry are important drivers for local phenomena characterizing its climate, such as lee cyclogenesis (Trigo et al, 2002), local winds of sustained speed such as Bora, Mistral, Etesian winds (Zecchetto and De Biasio, 2007), and deep-water formation (Mertens and Schott, 1998;MEDOC Group, 1970).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coupled atmosphere ocean climate model simulations in the Mediterranean region: effect of a high-resolution marine model on cyclones and precipitation

Sanna¹,

Lionello²,

Gualdi³

2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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In this study we investigate the importance of an eddy-permitting Mediterranean Sea circulation model on the simulation of atmospheric cyclones and precipitation in a climate model. This is done by analyzing results of two fully coupled GCM (general circulation models) simulations, differing only for the presence/absence of an interactive marine module, at very high-resolution (~ 1/16°), for the simulation of the 3-D circulation of the Mediterranean Sea. Cyclones are tracked by applying an objective Lagrangian algorithm to the MSLP (mean sea level pressure) field. On annual basis, we find a statistically significant difference in vast cyclogenesis regions (northern Adriatic, Sirte Gulf, Aegean Sea and southern Turkey) and in lifetime, giving evidence of the effect of both land–sea contrast and surface heat flux intensity and spatial distribution on cyclone characteristics. Moreover, annual mean convective precipitation changes significantly in the two model climatologies as a consequence of differences in both air–sea interaction strength and frequency of cyclogenesis in the two analyzed simulations

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Section: A Sanna Et Al: Effect Of a High-resolution Marine Model Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coupled atmosphere ocean climate model simulations in the Mediterranean region: effect of a high-resolution marine model on cyclones and precipitation

Sanna¹,

Lionello²,

Gualdi³

2013

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The choice of this period of the year is based on the fact that it is characterized in general by a weak synoptic-scale forcing, there is little influence from midlatitude systems and the convective activity is important over central and northern Greece (Flocas, 1993;Trigo et al, 2002;Kostopoulou and Jones, 2007;Mazarakis et al, 2008). For the statistical evaluation, the precipitation observations from 41 rain gauges operated by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), 26 rain gauges operated by the National Observatory of Athens, 13 rain gauges operated by the Ministry of Rural Development, 10 rain gauges operated by the National Technical University of Athens and 23 rain gauges provided by the ECMWF MARS data base are used.…”

Section: Data Setsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The sensitivity of warm period precipitation forecasts to various modifications of the Kain-Fritsch Convective Parameterization scheme

Mazarakis

Kotroni

Lagouvardos

et al. 2011

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The sensitivity of quantitative precipitation forecasts to various modifications of the Kain-Fritsch (KF) convective parameterization scheme (CPS) is examined for twenty selected cases characterized by intense convective activity and widespread precipitation over Greece, during the warm period of [2005][2006][2007]. The study is conducted using the MM5 model with a two nested domains strategy, with horizontal grid increments of 24 and 8 km, respectively. Five modifications to the KF CPS, each designed to test the sensitivity of the model to the convective scheme formulation, are discussed. The modifications include: (i) the maximization of the convective scheme precipitation efficiency, (ii) the change of the convective time step, (iii) the forcing of the convective scheme to produce more/less cloud material, (iv) changes to the trigger function and (v) the alteration of the vertical profile of updraft mass flux detrainment.The simulated precipitation from the 8-km grid is verified against raingauge measurements. Although skill scores vary widely among the cases and the precipitation thresholds, model results using the modifications of the convective scheme show improvements in 6-h precipitation totals compared to simulations generated using the unmodified convective scheme. In general, forcing the model to produce less cloud material improves the precipitation forecast for the moderate and high precipitation amounts, while the same modification and the change of the convective time step to 1 min has the same result for the high precipitation thresholds. The increase of convective time step to 15 min, the maximization of precipitation efficiency and the changes to the trigger function give similar results for medium and high precipitation. On the other hand, the forecast for the light Correspondence to: N. Mazarakis (nickmaz@meteo.noa.gr) precipitation is improved by forcing the model to produce more cloud material as well as by the alteration of the vertical profile of updraft mass flux detrainment.

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“…The depressions formed over the main cyclogenesis areas of the Mediterranean (see, e.g. Maheras et al, 2001;Trigo et al, 2002) favour static instability, which is responsible for high precipitation amounts and frequent thunderstorm events. On the other hand, during the warm period of the year, the 362 C. J. LOLIS sea surface is averagely cooler than the air above it, favouring downward sensible heat fluxes and enhancing atmospheric stability in the lowest tropospheric layers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatic features of atmospheric stability in the Mediterranean region (1948–2006): spatial modes, inter‐monthly and inter‐annual variability

Lolis

2007

Meteorological Applications

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ABSTRACT:The predominant spatial modes of atmospheric stability over the Mediterranean region are revealed by applying factor analysis and cluster analysis on the daily 2.5°× 2.5°grid point values of K-index for the period 1948-2006. At first, S-mode factor analysis is applied on the K-index time series in order to reduce the dimensionality of the data set. The k-means cluster analysis is then applied to the factor scores time series, and the days are classified into 12 clusters with distinct and characteristic spatial distributions of the K-index. The 12 spatial modes revealed are associated with the prevailing atmospheric circulation types and/or the thermal and humidity characteristics of the lower and the middle troposphere. The inter-monthly variations of their frequency reveal the seasonal factors that contribute to their predominance. The seasonality of the 12 clusters shows that three of them prevail mainly in winter, three of them prevail mainly in summer, and the other six clusters present a relatively even seasonal distribution. The inter-annual variations of their frequency exhibit considerable long-term changes, providing also some possible indications of the oncoming climatic change. The continuous decrease of the typical high instability pattern of late spring and early summer and the recent increase of one of the typical high instability winter patterns provide some useful information about climate variability in the Mediterranean.

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Climatology of Cyclogenesis Mechanisms in the Mediterranean

Cited by 321 publications

References 38 publications

Coupled atmosphere ocean climate model simulations in the Mediterranean region: effect of a high-resolution marine model on cyclones and precipitation

Coupled atmosphere ocean climate model simulations in the Mediterranean region: effect of a high-resolution marine model on cyclones and precipitation

The sensitivity of warm period precipitation forecasts to various modifications of the Kain-Fritsch Convective Parameterization scheme

Climatic features of atmospheric stability in the Mediterranean region (1948–2006): spatial modes, inter‐monthly and inter‐annual variability

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