GPM-CO observations of Medicane Ianos: Comparative analysis of precipitation structure between development and mature phase

Abstract

The present work exploits the satellite measurements from the NASA/JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory (GPM-CO) active and passive microwave sensors to analyze the precipitation structure of the most intense Mediterranean Hurricane (Medicane) on record, named Ianos, which swept across the Ionian Sea between 14 and 18 September 2020. Two GPM-CO overpasses, available during Ianos development and tropical-like cyclone (mature) phase, are analyzed in detail. GPM Microwave Imager measurements are used to carry out a comparative analysis of the medicane precipitation structure and microphysics processes between the two phases. The GPM-CO Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar overpass, available for the first time during a medicane mature phase, provides key measurements and products to analyze the 3D precipitation structure in the rainbands, offering further evidence of the main precipitation microphysics processes inferred from the passive microwave measurement analysis. Substantial difference in the rainband precipitation structure is observed, with deeper convection and stronger updraft features during development than at the mature phase, when also shallow precipitation/warm rain processes are observed in the inner region around the medicane eye. These features play a key role to explain the substantial drop in lightning activity during Ianos mature phase. Graupel-ice electrification process is inhibited due to the combined effect of strong horizontal wind and the observed limited growth of graupel. The study demonstrates the value of the GPM-CO not only to characterize Medicane Ianos precipitation structure and microphysics processes with unprecedented detail, but also to provide evidence of its exceptional intensity, tropical-like characteristics during its mature phase, and its similarities with tropical cyclones.