Abstract
ABSTRACTThe Spanish Mediterranean area is periodically affected by torrential rainfall events during autumn. In September 2012, one of these episodes took place with up to 50 mm of rain in a 1-hour period and with more than 300 mm in 12 hours. This study shows the spatial and temporal variability of the atmospheric integrated water vapour (IWV) observed using delays in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals and associated rainfall during this severe weather event. This experiment focuses on the relationship between the variations of IWV values in GNSS stations and meteorological variables such as atmospheric pressure and precipitation. This study was carried out on the Mediterranean coast of Spain during a heavy rainfall episode. The results show a mean increase in IWV of around 30 kg/m2 occurring prior to heavy precipitation. They further revealed an increase of up to a 100% in IWV values in several GNSS stations available in the study area. Fluctuations in IWV fields correlate well with approaching frontal rainfall and a combined rise in IWV and a drop in atmospheric pressure may well be used as a pre-cursor to heavy precipitation.
Highlights
Heavy rainfall is generally associated with high moisture content, vertical movement and static instability (Maddox 1979; Doswell et al 1996)
Atmospheric water vapour content occurs in this region with greater variability and instability, which is intrinsically linked to heavy rainfall
The relationship between heavy rainfall and water vapour content have been analyzed in an area prone to some of the highest values of integrated water vapour (IWV) in Europe
Summary
Heavy rainfall is generally associated with high moisture content, vertical movement and static instability (Maddox 1979; Doswell et al 1996). Atmospheric water vapour content occurs in this region with greater variability and instability, which is intrinsically linked to heavy rainfall. This type of event motivated an effort to improve precipitation forecasting by incorporating additional information on the initial state of the humidity field from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations (Vedel et al 2004). This case study shows an experimental analysis concerning the spatial and temporal variability of integrated water vapour (IWV) during a heavy rainfall episode This episode occurred in autumn 2012, which affected several regions of Spain, causing large economic losses and loss of life.
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