Articles | Volume 20, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-433-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-20-433-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Investigating extreme marine summers in the Mediterranean Sea
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Anavyssos, Greece
Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Gerasimos Korres
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Anavyssos, Greece
Emmanouil Flaounas
Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Anavyssos, Greece
Maria Hatzaki
Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Related authors
Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Giulia Bonino, Simona Masina, and Maria Hatzaki
State Planet, 4-osr8, 11, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-11-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-11-2024, 2024
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We investigate the air–sea heat flux during marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Mediterranean Sea. Surface heat flux drives 44 % of the onset and only 17 % of the declining MHW phases, suggesting a key role of oceanic processes. Heat flux is more important in warmer months and onset phases, with latent heat dominating. Shorter events show a weaker heat flux contribution. In most cases, mixed layer shoaling occurs over the entire MHW duration, followed by vertical mixing after the MHW end day.
Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Sophia Darmaraki, and Maria Hatzaki
State Planet Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2024-4, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2024-4, 2024
Preprint under review for SP
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The Mediterranean Sea experiences a basin-wide increase in sea surface temperature (SST) and extreme SST occurrences. Stronger warming trends are found in the eastern basin where a decrease in SST variability is also observed. Our findings on the origin of marine heatwave (MHW) trends in the basin suggest that the mean SST warming drives the long-term trends for most MHW properties across the basin except for mean MHW intensity, where interannual variability emerges as the dominant driver.
Charikleia L. G. Oikonomou, Dimitra Denaxa, and Gerasimos Korres
State Planet Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2022-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2022-16, 2022
Preprint withdrawn
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We explore the wave energy resource within the Mediterranean basin, along with the dominant wave regime. Results suggest that although the basin is not characterised by high energy potential, it could serve as a deployment zone for low-power devices due to low peak period variability and high site accessibility levels. Results suggest that further research is required to determine the dominant wave regime, as the high contribution of swell partitions hints the occurrence of mixed sea states.
Eric Jansen, Sam Pimentel, Wang-Hung Tse, Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Isabelle Mirouze, and Andrea Storto
Ocean Sci., 15, 1023–1032, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1023-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1023-2019, 2019
Short summary
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The assimilation of satellite SST data into ocean models is complex. The temperature of the thin uppermost layer that is measured by satellites may differ from the much thicker upper layer used in numerical models, leading to biased results. This paper shows how canonical correlation analysis can be used to generate observation operators from existing datasets of model states and corresponding observation values. This type of operator can correct for near-surface effects when assimilating SST.
Gerasimos Korres, Dimitra Denaxa, Eric Jansen, Isabelle Mirouze, Sam Pimentel, Wang-Hung Tse, and Andrea Storto
Ocean Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2018-158, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2018-158, 2019
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
A statistical-dynamical observation operator (SOSSTA) for satellite SST data assimilation able to account for SST diurnal variability, is formulated and implemented into the POSEIDON forecasting system (Aegean Sea). Model experiments where daytime SST retrievals from the SEVIRI infrared radiometer are introduced into the data assimilation procedure through the application of the observation operator, showed an improvement of the POSEIDON modelling system performance.
Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Giulia Bonino, Simona Masina, and Maria Hatzaki
State Planet, 4-osr8, 11, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-11-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-4-osr8-11-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the air–sea heat flux during marine heatwaves (MHWs) in the Mediterranean Sea. Surface heat flux drives 44 % of the onset and only 17 % of the declining MHW phases, suggesting a key role of oceanic processes. Heat flux is more important in warmer months and onset phases, with latent heat dominating. Shorter events show a weaker heat flux contribution. In most cases, mixed layer shoaling occurs over the entire MHW duration, followed by vertical mixing after the MHW end day.
Marco Chericoni, Giorgia Fosser, Emmanouil Flaounas, Gianmaria Sannino, and Alessandro Anav
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2829, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2829, 2024
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This study explores how sea surface energy influences both the atmosphere and ocean at various vertical levels during extreme Mediterranean cyclones. It focuses on cyclones' precipitation and wind speed response, as well as on ocean temperature variation. The analysis shows the effectiveness of the Regional Coupled Model in coherently representing the thermodynamic processes associated with extreme cyclones across both the atmosphere and the ocean.
Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Sophia Darmaraki, and Maria Hatzaki
State Planet Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2024-4, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2024-4, 2024
Preprint under review for SP
Short summary
Short summary
The Mediterranean Sea experiences a basin-wide increase in sea surface temperature (SST) and extreme SST occurrences. Stronger warming trends are found in the eastern basin where a decrease in SST variability is also observed. Our findings on the origin of marine heatwave (MHW) trends in the basin suggest that the mean SST warming drives the long-term trends for most MHW properties across the basin except for mean MHW intensity, where interannual variability emerges as the dominant driver.
Emmanouil Flaounas, Stavros Dafis, Silvio Davolio, Davide Faranda, Christian Ferrarin, Katharina Hartmuth, Assaf Hochman, Aristeidis Koutroulis, Samira Khodayar, Mario Marcello Miglietta, Florian Pantillon, Platon Patlakas, Michael Sprenger, and Iris Thurnherr
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2809, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2809, 2024
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Weather and Climate Dynamics (WCD).
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Storm Daniel (2023) is one of the most catastrophic ones ever documented in the Mediterranean. Our results highlight the different dynamics and therefore the different predictability skill of precipitation, its extremes and impacts that have been produced in Greece and Libya, the two most affected countries. Our approach concerns a holistic analysis of the storm by articulating dynamics, weather prediction, hydrological and oceanographic implications, climate extremes and attribution theory.
Kyriakoula Papachristopoulou, Ilias Fountoulakis, Alkiviadis F. Bais, Basil E. Psiloglou, Nikolaos Papadimitriou, Ioannis-Panagiotis Raptis, Andreas Kazantzidis, Charalampos Kontoes, Maria Hatzaki, and Stelios Kazadzis
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 1851–1877, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1851-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-1851-2024, 2024
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The upgraded systems SENSE2 and NextSENSE2 focus on improving the quality of solar nowcasting and forecasting. SENSE2 provides real-time estimates of solar irradiance across a wide region every 15 min. NextSENSE2 offers short-term forecasts of irradiance up to 3 h ahead. Evaluation with actual data showed that the instantaneous comparison yields the most discrepancies due to the uncertainties of cloud-related information and satellite versus ground-based spatial representativeness limitations.
Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 419–438, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-419-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-419-2024, 2024
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We show that the formation of Mediterranean cyclones follows the presence of cyclones over the North Atlantic. The distinct regions of cyclone activity in the Mediterranean in the different seasons can be linked to the atmospheric state, in particular the position of the polar jet over the North Atlantic. With this we now better understand the processes that lead to the formation of Mediterranean cyclones. We used a novel simulation framework in which we directly show and probe this connection.
Yonatan Givon, Or Hess, Emmanouil Flaounas, Jennifer Louise Catto, Michael Sprenger, and Shira Raveh-Rubin
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 133–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-133-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-133-2024, 2024
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A novel classification of Mediterranean cyclones is presented, enabling a separation between storms driven by different atmospheric processes. The surface impact of each cyclone class differs greatly by precipitation, winds, and temperatures, providing an invaluable tool to study the climatology of different types of Mediterranean storms and enhancing the understanding of their predictability, on both weather and climate scales.
Giovanni Coppini, Emanuela Clementi, Gianpiero Cossarini, Stefano Salon, Gerasimos Korres, Michalis Ravdas, Rita Lecci, Jenny Pistoia, Anna Chiara Goglio, Massimiliano Drudi, Alessandro Grandi, Ali Aydogdu, Romain Escudier, Andrea Cipollone, Vladyslav Lyubartsev, Antonio Mariani, Sergio Cretì, Francesco Palermo, Matteo Scuro, Simona Masina, Nadia Pinardi, Antonio Navarra, Damiano Delrosso, Anna Teruzzi, Valeria Di Biagio, Giorgio Bolzon, Laura Feudale, Gianluca Coidessa, Carolina Amadio, Alberto Brosich, Arnau Miró, Eva Alvarez, Paolo Lazzari, Cosimo Solidoro, Charikleia Oikonomou, and Anna Zacharioudaki
Ocean Sci., 19, 1483–1516, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1483-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1483-2023, 2023
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The paper presents the Mediterranean Forecasting System evolution and performance developed in the framework of the Copernicus Marine Service.
Emmanouil Flaounas, Leonardo Aragão, Lisa Bernini, Stavros Dafis, Benjamin Doiteau, Helena Flocas, Suzanne L. Gray, Alexia Karwat, John Kouroutzoglou, Piero Lionello, Mario Marcello Miglietta, Florian Pantillon, Claudia Pasquero, Platon Patlakas, María Ángeles Picornell, Federico Porcù, Matthew D. K. Priestley, Marco Reale, Malcolm J. Roberts, Hadas Saaroni, Dor Sandler, Enrico Scoccimarro, Michael Sprenger, and Baruch Ziv
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 639–661, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-639-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-639-2023, 2023
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Cyclone detection and tracking methods (CDTMs) have different approaches in defining and tracking cyclone centers. This leads to disagreements on extratropical cyclone climatologies. We present a new approach that combines tracks from individual CDTMs to produce new composite tracks. These new tracks are shown to correspond to physically meaningful systems with distinctive life stages.
Christian Ferrarin, Florian Pantillon, Silvio Davolio, Marco Bajo, Mario Marcello Miglietta, Elenio Avolio, Diego S. Carrió, Ioannis Pytharoulis, Claudio Sanchez, Platon Patlakas, Juan Jesús González-Alemán, and Emmanouil Flaounas
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2273–2287, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2273-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2273-2023, 2023
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The combined use of meteorological and ocean models enabled the analysis of extreme sea conditions driven by Medicane Ianos, which hit the western coast of Greece on 18 September 2020, flooding and damaging the coast. The large spread associated with the ensemble highlighted the high model uncertainty in simulating such an extreme weather event. The different simulations have been used for outlining hazard scenarios that represent a fundamental component of the coastal risk assessment.
Anna Karali, Konstantinos V. Varotsos, Christos Giannakopoulos, Panagiotis P. Nastos, and Maria Hatzaki
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 429–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-429-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-429-2023, 2023
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As climate change leads to more frequent and severe fires, forecasting fire danger before fire season begins can support fire management. This study aims to provide high-resolution probabilistic seasonal fire danger forecasts in a Mediterranean environment and assess their ability to capture years with increased fire activity. Results indicate that forecasts are skillful in predicting above-normal fire danger conditions and can be exploited by regional authorities in fire prevention management.
Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas
Weather Clim. Dynam., 4, 157–173, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-157-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-157-2023, 2023
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We investigate the dynamical origin of the lower-atmospheric potential vorticity (PV; linked to the intensity of cyclones) in Mediterranean cyclones. We quantify the contribution of the cyclone and the environment by tracing PV backward in time and space and linking it to the track of the cyclone. We find that the lower-tropospheric PV is produced shortly before the cyclone's stage of highest intensity. We investigate the driving processes and use a global dataset and a process-resolving one.
Charikleia L. G. Oikonomou, Dimitra Denaxa, and Gerasimos Korres
State Planet Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2022-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-2022-16, 2022
Preprint withdrawn
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We explore the wave energy resource within the Mediterranean basin, along with the dominant wave regime. Results suggest that although the basin is not characterised by high energy potential, it could serve as a deployment zone for low-power devices due to low peak period variability and high site accessibility levels. Results suggest that further research is required to determine the dominant wave regime, as the high contribution of swell partitions hints the occurrence of mixed sea states.
Emmanouil Flaounas, Silvio Davolio, Shira Raveh-Rubin, Florian Pantillon, Mario Marcello Miglietta, Miguel Angel Gaertner, Maria Hatzaki, Victor Homar, Samira Khodayar, Gerasimos Korres, Vassiliki Kotroni, Jonilda Kushta, Marco Reale, and Didier Ricard
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 173–208, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-173-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-173-2022, 2022
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This is a collective effort to describe the state of the art in Mediterranean cyclone dynamics, climatology, prediction (weather and climate scales) and impacts. More than that, the paper focuses on the future directions of research that would advance the broader field of Mediterranean cyclones as a whole. Thereby, we propose interdisciplinary cooperation and additional modelling and forecasting strategies, and we highlight the need for new impact-oriented approaches to climate prediction.
Samira Khodayar, Silvio Davolio, Paolo Di Girolamo, Cindy Lebeaupin Brossier, Emmanouil Flaounas, Nadia Fourrie, Keun-Ok Lee, Didier Ricard, Benoit Vie, Francois Bouttier, Alberto Caldas-Alvarez, and Veronique Ducrocq
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 17051–17078, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17051-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-17051-2021, 2021
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Heavy precipitation (HP) constitutes a major meteorological threat in the western Mediterranean. Every year, recurrent events affect the area with fatal consequences. Despite this being a well-known issue, open questions still remain. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the modeling representation of the events must be improved. In this article we present the most recent lessons learned from the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX).
Emmanouil Flaounas, Suzanne L. Gray, and Franziska Teubler
Weather Clim. Dynam., 2, 255–279, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-255-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-255-2021, 2021
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In this study, we quantify the relative contribution of different atmospheric processes to the development of 100 intense Mediterranean cyclones and show that both upper tropospheric systems and diabatic processes contribute to cyclone development. However, these contributions are complex and present high variability among the cases. For this reason, we analyse several exemplary cases in more detail, including 10 systems that have been identified in the past as tropical-like cyclones.
Emmanouil Flaounas, Matthias Röthlisberger, Maxi Boettcher, Michael Sprenger, and Heini Wernli
Weather Clim. Dynam., 2, 71–88, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-71-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-2-71-2021, 2021
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In this study we identify the wettest seasons globally and address their meteorological characteristics. We show that in different regions the wettest seasons occur in different times of the year and result from either unusually high frequencies of wet days and/or daily extremes. These high frequencies can be largely attributed to four specific weather systems, especially cyclones. Our analysis uses a thoroughly explained, novel methodology that could also be applied to climate models.
Eric Jansen, Sam Pimentel, Wang-Hung Tse, Dimitra Denaxa, Gerasimos Korres, Isabelle Mirouze, and Andrea Storto
Ocean Sci., 15, 1023–1032, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1023-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-15-1023-2019, 2019
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The assimilation of satellite SST data into ocean models is complex. The temperature of the thin uppermost layer that is measured by satellites may differ from the much thicker upper layer used in numerical models, leading to biased results. This paper shows how canonical correlation analysis can be used to generate observation operators from existing datasets of model states and corresponding observation values. This type of operator can correct for near-surface effects when assimilating SST.
Gerasimos Korres, Dimitra Denaxa, Eric Jansen, Isabelle Mirouze, Sam Pimentel, Wang-Hung Tse, and Andrea Storto
Ocean Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2018-158, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-2018-158, 2019
Preprint withdrawn
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A statistical-dynamical observation operator (SOSSTA) for satellite SST data assimilation able to account for SST diurnal variability, is formulated and implemented into the POSEIDON forecasting system (Aegean Sea). Model experiments where daytime SST retrievals from the SEVIRI infrared radiometer are introduced into the data assimilation procedure through the application of the observation operator, showed an improvement of the POSEIDON modelling system performance.
Michalis Ravdas, Anna Zacharioudaki, and Gerasimos Korres
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2675–2695, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-2675-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-2675-2018, 2018
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A high-resolution operational wave forecasting system for the Mediterranean Sea has been developed within the framework of the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, which provides open, cost-free, and quality-controlled products. The system accounts for waves arriving through the Straight of Gibraltar and for the effect of surface currents on waves. It provides accurate results over well-exposed locations and satisfactory results within enclosed basins and near the coast.
George Petihakis, Leonidas Perivoliotis, Gerasimos Korres, Dionysios Ballas, Constantin Frangoulis, Paris Pagonis, Manolis Ntoumas, Manos Pettas, Antonis Chalkiopoulos, Maria Sotiropoulou, Margarita Bekiari, Alkiviadis Kalampokis, Michalis Ravdas, Evi Bourma, Sylvia Christodoulaki, Anna Zacharioudaki, Dimitris Kassis, Emmanuel Potiris, George Triantafyllou, Kostas Tsiaras, Evangelia Krasakopoulou, Spyros Velanas, and Nikos Zisis
Ocean Sci., 14, 1223–1245, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1223-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1223-2018, 2018
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Integrated oceanic observations on multiple processes including biogeochemistry are scarce. In the eastern Mediterranean (Cretan Sea) the spatiotemporal coverage of such observations has increased with the expansion of the POSEIDON observatory. The observatory addresses scientific questions, provides services to policy makers and society, and serves as a technological test bed. It plays a key role in European and international observing programs, in harmonization procedures and data handling.
Emmanouil Flaounas, Vassiliki Kotroni, Konstantinos Lagouvardos, Martina Klose, Cyrille Flamant, and Theodore M. Giannaros
Geosci. Model Dev., 10, 2925–2945, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-2925-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-10-2925-2017, 2017
Emmanouil Flaounas, Vassiliki Kotroni, Konstantinos Lagouvardos, Martina Klose, Cyrille Flamant, and Theodore M. Giannaros
Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-307, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-307, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted
P. Katsafados, A. Papadopoulos, G. Korres, and G. Varlas
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 161–173, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-161-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-161-2016, 2016
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This paper includes the entire steps and processes to develop a two-way fully coupled atmosphere-ocean wave model (WEW) aiming a better description and understanding of the exchange processes near the ocean surface. WEW offers a more realistic representation of the extreme weather and sea state events over the ocean bodies and finally leads in an overall improved simulations.
E. Flaounas, V. Kotroni, K. Lagouvardos, and I. Flaounas
Geosci. Model Dev., 7, 1841–1853, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1841-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-1841-2014, 2014
E. Kostopoulou, C. Giannakopoulos, M. Hatzaki, A. Karali, P. Hadjinicolaou, J. Lelieveld, and M. A. Lange
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 1565–1577, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-1565-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-1565-2014, 2014
A. Karali, M. Hatzaki, C. Giannakopoulos, A. Roussos, G. Xanthopoulos, and V. Tenentes
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14, 143–153, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-143-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-143-2014, 2014
Related subject area
Approach: Analytic Theory | Properties and processes: Climate and modes of variability
Equatorial wave diagnosis for the Atlantic Niño in 2019 with an ocean reanalysis
Intraseasonal and interannual variability of sea temperature in the Arabian Sea Warm Pool
Qingyang Song and Hidenori Aiki
Ocean Sci., 19, 1705–1717, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1705-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1705-2023, 2023
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There has been a long-standing need for a rapid-detection method for waves using simulation data for Atlantic Niño events. This study addresses this by utilizing an ocean reanalysis and an energy flux scheme during the 2019 Niño event. The results confirm the significant influence of subseasonal Kelvin waves on the event and also suggest that wave energy from off-equatorial regions likely preconditioned the event. This study is thus a useful tool for warning systems for Atlantic Niño events.
Na Li, Xueming Zhu, Hui Wang, Shouwen Zhang, and Xidong Wang
Ocean Sci., 19, 1437–1451, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1437-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-1437-2023, 2023
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Observations of the sea surface temperature in the Arabian Sea show exceptional warming before the onset of the Indian Ocean summer monsoon. The sea surface temperature change is mainly caused by sea surface heat flux forcing, horizontal advection, and vertical entrainment. Here, we quantify the contribution of those factors to the Arabian Sea warm pool using heat budget analysis and highlight how large-scale ocean modes control its change.
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Short summary
This study explores extreme marine summers (EMSs) in the Mediterranean Sea using sea surface temperature (SST) data. EMSs arise mainly due to the warmest summer days being unusually warm. Air–sea heat fluxes drive EMSs in northern regions, where also enhanced marine heatwave conditions are found during EMSs. Long-term SST changes lead to warmer EMSs while not affecting the way daily SST values are organized during EMSs. Findings enhance comprehension of anomalously warm conditions in the basin.
This study explores extreme marine summers (EMSs) in the Mediterranean Sea using sea surface...