Convective environments within Mediterranean cyclones

DOI
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Understanding convective processes leading to severe weather hazards within Mediterranean cyclones is relevant for operational forecasters, insurance industry, and enhancing societal preparedness. In this work we examine the climatological link between Mediterranean cyclones and atmospheric conditions conducive to the formation of severe convection and convective hazards (convective precipitation, lightning and hail potential). Using ATDnet lightning detections we f ind that, from autumn to spring, 20 to 60% of lightning hours over the Mediterranean basin and adjacent land regions are associated with the presence of a nearby cyclone. Based on reanalysis data, severe convective environments, deep, moist convection (i.e., lightning potential) and related hazards are frequent in the warm sector of Mediterranean cyclones and to the north-east of their centres. In agreement with previous literature, convective processes and hazards peak approximately six hours prior to the time of minimum pressure of the cyclone centre. Moreover, severe convective environments are often detected in cyclone categories typical of transition seasons (especially autumn) and summer, while they are rarer in deep baroclinic cyclones with peak occurrence during winter. Finally, we show that dynamical cyclone features distinguish regions favourable to deep, moist convection. Warm conveyor belts of Mediterranean cyclones, characterised by large-scale ascent and located in regions of high thermodynamic instability, have the largest lightning potential. The potential is only half as intense along the cyclones’ cold fronts.
Date Issued
2024-12-03
Publication Type
Working Paper
Subject(s)
Subjects
Mediterranean cyclones
•
deep moist convection
•
severe convective environment
•
warm conveyor belt
•
cold front
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Angelidou, Andrea
Rousseau, Raphaël
Raveh-Rubin, Shira
Weizmann Institute of Science
Givon, Yonatan
Weizmann Institute of Science
Catto, Jennifer L.
University of Exeter
Battaglioli, Francesco
European Severe Storms Laboratory
Taszarek, Mateusz
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
University of Oklahoma
Flaounas, Emmanouil
Additional Credits
Weizmann Institute of Science
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
University of Exeter
University of Oklahoma
European Severe Storms Laboratory
Publisher
Cornell University
Funding(s)
Related Dataset(s)
10.24381/cds.adbb2d47
10.5281/zenodo.13758677
Access(Rights)
open.access
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