The role of surface fluxes in the development of a tropical-like cyclone in southern Italy

Miglietta, Mario Marcello; Davolio, Silvio; Moscatello, A.; Pacifico, Federica; Rotunno, Richard

doi:10.5194/asr-2-35-2008

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Therefore, both surface fluxes and latent-heat release are important in maintaining the intensity of the TLC over the Adriatic Sea, although the latter factor seems to be the most important. Again the WRF sensitivity experiments (Moscatello et al, 2008) agree with this conclusion that supports the hypothesis of a physical mechanism similar to that responsible of the intensification of the hurricanes (WISHE theory; Rotunno and Emanuel, 1987). During this phase the system clearly resembles a small-scale tropical cyclone and moves in a barotropic environment fed by air-sea interaction processes.…”

Section: Role Of Surface Fluxes and Latent Heat Releasesupporting

confidence: 79%

“…On the other hand, the depth of the cyclone is mainly dependent on the choice of the model, as its absolute minimum is generally much deeper in the case of BOLAM and MOLOCH models than for WRF. Different intensity of the vortex forecast by the three models can be ascribed to different intensities of the surface fluxes as shown by Miglietta et al (2008). This indicates that the trajectory depends mainly on the larger-scale-flow characteristics, while the vortex growth is particularly sensitive to local dynamics.…”

Section: Limited Area Modelsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Miglietta et al (2008) ascribed this rainfall to the strong uplift due to the interaction of the south-easterly low-level flow, preceding the cyclone, with the steep orography of Calabria. As a consequence of an im- pressive pressure drop of 10 hPa in 6 h the vortex reaches its mature phase and crosses the Salentine Peninsula between 08:00 and 10:00 UTC, characterized by a simulated minimum pressure value of 985 hPa ( Fig.…”

Section: Control Forecastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During this phase the system clearly resembles a small-scale tropical cyclone and moves in a barotropic environment fed by air-sea interaction processes. A more detailed analysis of the horizontal structure of the surface fluxes and the contribution of moisture (latent heat) fluxes with respect to sensible heat fluxes is presented in Miglietta et al (2008).…”

Section: Role Of Surface Fluxes and Latent Heat Releasementioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical forecast and analysis of a tropical-like cyclone in the Ionian Sea

Davolio

Miglietta

Moscatello

et al. 2009

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract.A forecasting system has been implemented for operational weather prediction over southern Italy in the framework of the RISKMED (INTERREG IIIB) project, which aims at weather-risk reduction in the central and eastern Mediterranean area. The system comprises two different regional forecasting chains, one based on BOLAM and MOLOCH models, the second based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model.On 26 September 2006, a subsynoptic-scale vortex developed over the Mediterranean Sea and affected south-eastern Italy. The cyclone was documented by radar reflectivity maps, Meteosat Second Generation satellite images and surface stations data. The observational analysis showed that the cyclone possessed the typical characteristics of a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone.All the limited-area models employed in RISKMED were able to properly forecast the formation of the small-scale vortex, although with differences in intensity, trajectory and evolution. The predictability of the event has been evaluated employing a multi-model, multi-analysis approach. The simulation results show strong sensitivity to the specification of the initial and boundary conditions. Sensitivity experiments were performed in order to analyse the mechanisms responsible for the development and the maintenance of the cyclone over the sea. The life cycle of the vortex turned out to be characterized by different phases: the orographic cyclogenesis on the lee side of the Atlas Mountains; the initial phase of development, characterised by the Correspondence to: S. Davolio (s.davolio@isac.cnr.it) critical role played by the surface heat fluxes; the transition to a tropical-like cyclone mainly as a consequence of the latentheat release associated with strong convective activity over the Ionian Sea; finally, the maintenance of the vortex strength due to both the surface fluxes and the release of latent heat.

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Section: Role Of Surface Fluxes and Latent Heat Releasesupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Limited Area Modelsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Control Forecastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Role Of Surface Fluxes and Latent Heat Releasementioning

confidence: 99%

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Numerical forecast and analysis of a tropical-like cyclone in the Ionian Sea

Davolio

Miglietta

Moscatello

et al. 2009

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…The wind speed predicted by WRF is weaker on the Adriatic Sea, while over the Tyrrhenian and the Ionian Sea is slightly more intense. The absence of wind curl over the Ionian Sea in the WRF model simulation may be due to differences in both model setup and physics: for example, the different way to treat the horizontal diffusion or the different treatment of the low level fluxes of heat and humidity, as discussed in Miglietta et al (2008) and Davolio et al (2009), can determine significant differences among the two modelling system outputs. The smaller number of vertical levels in the WRF model (Table 1) may also determine a less detailed representation of the physical processes near the surface.…”

Section: -15 December 2005mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coupling of high-resolution meteorological and wave models over southern Italy

Bertotti

Miglietta

Davolio

2009

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. In the framework of RISKMED project, three different high-resolution limited area meteorological models (BOLAM, MOLOCH and WRF) have been run over southern Italy for the retrospective analysis of three case studies characterized by strong winds and severe wave conditions in the Ionian, southern Adriatic and southern Tyrrhenian seas. All the models were able to reproduce the main meteorological features of each event.The wind fields simulated by the meteorological models and those provided by the ECMWF analysis have been ingested into a wave model (WAM) for the hindcast of the main wave parameters. The results have been compared with the observations of three buoys whose measurements were available in the area of interest.A remarkable improvement in the representation of the significant wave height came out using the limited area model data with respect to the simulations where the ECMWF analyses were used as forcing. Among the limited area models, the BOLAM-MOLOCH modelling system provided slightly better performances. From the limited set of simulations, the different model predictions came out closer to each other and more skilful in areas where the waves approach the coastline perpendicularly from the open sea.

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100 Years of Progress in Tropical Cyclone Research

Emanuel

2018

Meteorological Monographs

180

132

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A century ago, meteorologists regarded tropical cyclones as shallow vortices, extending upward only a few kilometers into the troposphere, and nothing was known about their physics save that convection was somehow involved. As recently as 1938, a major hurricane struck the densely populated northeastern United States with no warning whatsoever, killing hundreds. In the time since the American Meteorological Society was founded, however, tropical cyclone research blossomed into an endeavor of great breadth and depth, encompassing fields ranging from atmospheric and oceanic dynamics to biogeochemistry, and the precision and scope of forecasts and warnings have achieved a level of success that would have been regarded as impossible only a few decades ago. This chapter attempts to document the extraordinary progress in tropical cyclone research over the last century and to suggest some avenues for productive research over the next one.

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The role of surface fluxes in the development of a tropical-like cyclone in southern Italy

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Numerical forecast and analysis of a tropical-like cyclone in the Ionian Sea

Numerical forecast and analysis of a tropical-like cyclone in the Ionian Sea

Coupling of high-resolution meteorological and wave models over southern Italy

100 Years of Progress in Tropical Cyclone Research

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