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Analysis of tropical‐like cyclones over the Mediterranean Sea through a combined modeling and satellite approach
Author(s) -
Miglietta M. M.,
Laviola S.,
Malvaldi A.,
Conte D.,
Levizzani V.,
Price C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/grl.50432
Subject(s) - tropical cyclone , climatology , satellite , mediterranean sea , lightning (connector) , convection , cyclone (programming language) , environmental science , meteorology , rainband , tropical cyclone scales , mediterranean climate , geology , geography , physics , power (physics) , archaeology , astronomy , quantum mechanics , field programmable gate array , computer science , computer hardware
Several Mediterranean vortices with characteristics similar to tropical cyclones are analyzed by means of numerical simulations, satellite products and lightning data. Numerical analysis suggests that the broad tropical‐like cyclone category includes in reality a set of different cyclones, ranging from very small and weak vortices to larger and stronger cyclones. One case displays a much longer persistence of tropical features than the other events. The analysis of the tracks identifies two preferred areas of occurrence: the Ionian sea and the Balearic Islands. The satellite analysis of cloud top height and retrieved rainfall indicates that the stage characterized by the most intense convective activity and rainfall anticipates the mature phase, when the cyclone is more intense and characterized by tropical features, during which convection is shallower and rainfall weaker. This result is confirmed by a preliminary analysis of the lightning activity.