Abstract
Abstract An objective cyclone detection and tracking analysis is performed over an 18-yr period, for the Mediterranean basin. The high-resolution (1.125° × 1.125° grid) European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts data used in this study proved to be particularly suitable for the detection and tracking techniques and to identify subsynoptic-scale Mediterranean lows, which have often been underestimated in previous studies. The major characteristics of Mediterranean cyclones are examined and compared with other Northern Hemisphere depressions. Both cyclogenesis and cyclolysis regions are identified in the domain of study. In addition, characteristics of Mediterranean depressions, such as cyclone duration and intensity, as well as their persistence throughout the year, are shown to be quite variable for different formation areas. Overall, the regions where cyclogenesis is mainly controlled by topography, like the Gulf of Genoa and south of the Atlas Mountains, seem to generally account for the most in...
Highlights
This study considers results generated by 14 different cyclone detection and tracking methods (CDTMs), all based on objective criteria for cyclone identification and tracking
CDTMs agree that most of the Mediterranean cyclones are generated in the MR, with 76 % of cyclogenesis occurring inside the region according to the MCDTMmean and an uncertainty from 61 % to 85 % depending on the method
While differences in the cyclone counts among CDTMs in the MR span over almost one order of magnitude, the percentages of geographical and monthly distribution show an acceptable agreement. This mixture of consensus and disagreement among CDTMs has been the basic motivation of this intercomparison study and its attempt to identify information that is not affected by uncertainty
Summary
The Mediterranean region (MR) is one of the most active regions of the Northern Hemisphere in terms of cyclone. (1962), there have been many studies describing the most common features of cyclones in the MR, focusing on the most active areas, formation mechanisms, most common trajectories and impacts A non-negligible number of cyclones enter the MR from the Atlantic As their relative importance varies strongly on seasonal terms, and cyclone activity undergoes a strong interannual variability, a detailed characterisation of cyclone activity is necessary (Trigo et al, 2002; Campins et al, 2011; Garcies and Homar, 2011). This study considers results generated by 14 different CDTMs, all based on objective criteria for cyclone identification and tracking.
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