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The abrupt increase in the Aegean sea surface temperature during June 2007 – a marine heatwave event?
Author(s) -
Mavrakis Anastasios F.,
Tsiros Ioannis X.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.467
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1477-8696
pISSN - 0043-1656
DOI - 10.1002/wea.3296
Subject(s) - sea surface temperature , climatology , mediterranean sea , wind speed , mediterranean climate , environmental science , oceanography , geology , geography , archaeology
In this article we examine the abrupt increase in the Aegean Sea (southeast Mediterranean) surface temperature (SST) during the heatwave of June 2007 and the associated synoptic conditions. Air temperature and wind speed meteorological data, along with SST reanalysis data and combined satellite image and model data, are used. The analysis shows an unusual and very rapid rise in SST for the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean area for the period 22 June to 2 July 2007, indicating the possible occurrence of a marine heatwave event. The average SST value for June 2007 was found to be of the order of +5 degC above the month's normal climatic average. The available data support the hypothesis that the cause of these anomalies was a combination of the passive response of the Aegean Sea surface to radiation flux anomalies during the June 2007 heatwave period and the prevailing low wind speed conditions.