On the Dynamics of Mediterranean Explosive Cyclogenesis

Abstract

In this study, a first attempt is made to examine the mechanisms contributing to the explosive cyclogenesis in the Mediterranean basin during the cold period of the year. Surface explosive cyclones and their vertical characteristics were defined with the aid of the University of Melbourne Cyclone Tracking and Vertical Tracing Software, using the 6-hourly ERA-40 datasets at the resolution of 1° × 1° for a 40-year period (1962–2001), separately for the western (WM), central (CM) and eastern Mediterranean (EM). Composite anomalies of various thermodynamic parameters verified the strong baroclinic character of the phenomenon and the decisive role of the upper level dynamics during the time of ex..