Intercomparison of satellite observations and atmospheric model simulations of a meso-scale cyclone in the Mediterranean Sea

2002 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zecchetto ◽  
F. De Biasio ◽  
S. Music ◽  
S. Nickovic ◽  
N. Pierdicca
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Meso Scale

scholarly journals Satellite Observations of the Seasonal Evolution of Total Precipitable Water Vapour over the Mediterranean Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Palau ◽  
F. Rovira ◽  
M. J. Sales
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Precipitable Water ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Total Precipitable Water ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Precipitation Regimes ◽  
The Mediterranean

This study shows satellite observations and new findings on the time and spatial distribution of the Total Precipitable Water (TPW) column over the Mediterranean Sea throughout the year. Annual evolution and seasonality of the TPW column are shown and compared to the estimated net evaporation over the Mediterranean Sea. Daily spatiotemporal means are in good agreement with previous short-term field campaigns and also corroborate hypothesis and conclusions reached from previous mesoscale modelling studies: (a) from a meteorological point of view, Mediterranean Basin should be considered as two different subbasins (the Western and the Eastern Mediterranean); (b) accumulation processes may affect the radiative balance at regional scale and the summer precipitation regimes. Furthermore, these satellite observations constitute strong empirical evidences that, (a) from late May to early October, contrary to what happens in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin (EMB), there is a net accumulation of TPW on the Western Mediterranean Basin (WMB) that favours the instability of the atmosphere, (b) there is a seasonal anticorrelation between the seasonal variability of the TPW column over the two Mediterranean subbasins, (c) solar radiation can not be the only driver for the annual variability of the TPW column over the Mediterranean Sea, and (d) both previous features are seasonally dependent and, therefore, their effects on the TPW column are attenuated by annual variability.

Investigation of sea breeze and foehn in the Dead Sea valley with remote sensing observations and WRF model simulations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorita Rostkier-Edelstein ◽  
Pavel Kunin ◽  
Pinhas Alpert
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Sea Breeze ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
Single Location ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Dead

<p>The atmospheric dynamics in the Dead Sea Valley has been studied for decades. However, the studies relied mostly on surface observations and simple coarse-model simulations, insufficient to elucidate the complex flow in the area. In this seminar I will present a first study using high resolution (temporal and spatial) and sophisticate both, measurements and modeling tools. We focused on afternoon hours during summer time, when the Mediterranean Sea breeze penetrates into the Dead Sea Valley and sudden changes of wind, temperature and humidity occur in the valley.</p><p>An intense observations period in the area, including ground-based remote sensing and in-situ observations, took place during August and November 2014. The measurements were conducted as part of the Virtual Institute DEad SEa Research Venue (DESERVE) project using the KITcube profiling instruments (wind lidars, radiometer and soundings) along with surface Energy Balance Station. These observations enabled analysis of the vertical profile of the atmosphere at one single location at the foothills of Masada, about 1 km west of the Dead Sea shore.</p><p>High resolution (1.1 km grid size) model simulations were conducted using the Advanced Research Weather version of the Weather Forecast and Research mesoscale model (WRF). The simulations enabled analysis of the 3D flow at the Dead Sea Valley, information not provided by the observations at a single location. Sensitivity tests were run to determine the best model configuration for this study.</p><p>Our study shows that foehn develops in the lee side of the Judean Mountains and Dead Sea Valley in the afternoon hours when the Mediterranean Sea breeze reaches the area. The characteristics of the Mediterranean Sea breeze penetration into the valley and of the foehn (e.g. their depth) and the impact they have on the boundary layer flow in the Dead Sea Valley (e.g. sudden changes in temperature, humidity and wind) are conditioned to the daily synoptic and mesosocale conditions. In the synoptic scale, the depth of the seasonal pressure trough at sea level and the height of inversion layers play a significant role in determining the breeze and foehn characteristics. In the mesoscale, the intensity of the Dead Sea breeze and the humidity brought by it determines the outcomes at the time of Mediterranean Sea breeze penetration and foehn development. Dynamically, the foehn is associated with a hydraulic jump.</p><p>Hypothetical model simulations with modified terrain and with warmer Mediterranean Sea surface temperature were conducted to reveal the relative contribution of each of these factors and of their synergism on the observed phenomena. The information provided by the factor separation study can be useful in future climate projections, when a warmer Mediterranean Sea is expected.</p><p>The forecasting feasibility of foehn and the sudden changes in the Dead Sea valley 24 hours in advance using WRF is suggested following the present study. These forecasts can be most valuable for the region affected by pollution penetration from the metropolitan coastal zone.</p>

Seasonal to interannual phytoplankton response to physical processes in the Mediterranean Sea from satellite observations

2012 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 223-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Volpe ◽  
Bruno Buongiorno Nardelli ◽  
Paolo Cipollini ◽  
Rosalia Santoleri ◽  
Ian S. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals ¿Cuánto se está calentando el Mediterráneo?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
María José López García
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Thermal Images ◽  
The Mediterranean

Global warming particularly affects the oceans and seas. In the Mediterranean Sea, in situ oceanographic and meteorological records, together with the most recent satellite observations, show an estimated warming of between 0.6 °C and 1 °C over the last three decades. In this article we present the results of an analysis of a 35-year series of monthly thermal images in the western basins of the Mediterranean. The data indicate an intensification in the summer season: with the summers becoming longer and more intense and the months of June and July recording the highest rates of warming, with increases of 0.6 °C/decade. 

scholarly journals Multivariate Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of the upper thermocline structure of the Mediterranean Sea from observations and model simulations

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sparnocchia ◽  
N. Pinardi ◽  
E. Demirov
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Empirical Orthogonal Functions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Model Simulations ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. Multivariate vertical Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) are calculated for the entire Mediterranean Sea both from observations and model simulations, in order to find the optimal number of vertical modes to represent the upper thermocline vertical structure. For the first time, we show that the large-scale Mediterranean thermohaline vertical structure can be represented by a limited number of vertical multivariate EOFs, and that the "optimal set" can be selected on the basis of general principles. In particular, the EOFs are calculated for the combined temperature and salinity statistics, dividing the Mediterranean Sea into 9 regions and grouping the data seasonally. The criterion used to establish whether a reduced set of EOFs is optimal is based on the analysis of the root mean square residual error between the original data and the profiles reconstructed by the reduced set of EOFs. It was found that the number of EOFs needed to capture the variability contained in the original data changes with geographical region and seasons. In particular, winter data require a smaller number of modes (4–8, depending on the region) than the other seasons (8–9 in summer). Moreover, western Mediterranean regions require more modes than the eastern Mediterranean ones, but this result may depend on the data scarcity in the latter regions. The EOFs computed from the in situ data set are compared to those calculated using data obtained from a model simulation. The main results of this exercise are that the two groups of modes are not strictly comparable but their ability to reproduce observations is the same. Thus, they may be thought of as equivalent sets of basis functions, upon which to project the thermohaline variability of the basin. Key words. Oceanography: general (water masses) – Oceanography: physical (hydrography; instruments and techniques)

scholarly journals A 2-year intercomparison of the WAM-Cycle4 and the WAVEWATCH-III wave models implemented within the Mediterranean Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. KORRES ◽  
A. PAPADOPOULOS ◽  
P. KATSAFADOS ◽  
D. BALLAS ◽  
L. PERIVOLIOTIS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Wave Model ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Wavewatch Iii ◽  
Skill Scores ◽  
Wave Forecast ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Wave Models

In this work we present the implementation of a wave forecast/hindcast system for the Mediterranean Sea at a 1/10º horizontal resolution and we show a first assessment of its performance by inter-comparing model results to observational data time series at selected points for the period 2000-2001. The system which is part of the POSEIDON-II operational system includes the WAM – Cycle4 and the WAVEWATCH-III wave forecast models (implemented within the same region) one way coupled with the non-hydrostatic version of the ETA atmospheric model which provides at 3-hour intervals the necessary wind velocity fields to the wave models. The same system but based on the WAM-Cycle4 wave model, has been used in the past for the production of the Aegean Sea wind and wave Atlas. Overall, the inter-comparison shows that both wave models are rather skilful in predicting the integral wave parameters with significant wave height skill scores in the range 0.85-0.90 and mean period scores in the range 0.77-0.83. It is also evident that WAM model has a tendency to overestimate mean wave periods while the opposite is true for WAVEWATCH-III model. Differences between the two models simulated spectra exist along the main passage of cyclonic systems over the Mediterranean Sea while in the wind seas dominated areas of the basin (the Aegean Sea for example) the two models show almost the same behavior.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document