Abstract
The Western Mediterranean, in common with other subtropical regions, has certain characteristics that make a purely surface-based synoptic classification inadequate. Sometimes, despite the surface synoptic situation not being conducive to precipitation, a depression aloft can trigger convection and produce strong rains and flash floods. To account for this, we develop a new synoptic classification centred on Catalonia (north-east of the Iberian Peninsula) which combines upper air and surface pressure situations. The existing Jenkinson-Collison classification of the surface pressure field is combined with a new simplified upper air classification based on 500 hPa geopotential height. Despite a reduced number of types at 500 hPa, the combination of both surface and 500 hPa gives many potential combinations. A reduction in the overall number was achieved by adjusting the combined classification to replicate the manual classification of Martin-Vide. The final classification is reduced to 13 synoptic patterns each of which provides a clear and well-defined daily synoptic situation. It is used to characterize days with/without cold air pool (CAP) events, derived from a network of 50 temperature sensors distributed across Cerdanya in Eastern Pyrenees. We show our new classification to be better at discriminating strong CAP days from no-CAP days than classifications based on surface pressure alone. Thus there is potential for the classification to be used by forecasters as a first step for predicting temperature inversions and weather in the Eastern Pyrenees.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 104674 |
Journal | Atmospheric Research |
Early online date | 10 Sept 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Early online - 10 Sept 2019 |
Keywords
- synoptic meteorology
- synoptic classification
- Iberian Peninsula
- cold air pool
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Dive into the research topics of 'Daily atmospheric circulation patterns for Catalonia (northeast Iberian Peninsula) using a modified version of Jenkinson and Collison method'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Datasets
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Dataset for Pyrenees Climate (Cerdanya): 2012 - present
Pepin, N. (Creator), University of Portsmouth, 19 Oct 2018
DOI: 10.17029/41b3bedb-3b51-4746-9aa4-064dd15763b8
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