Large scale moisture flux characteristics of the mediterranean basin and their relationships with drier and wetter climate conditions
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Authors
Colleges, School and Institutes
External organisations
- Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Faculty of Çorlu Engineering
- Namik Kemal University
- Affiliated Faculty at the Department of Statistics
- Middle East Technical University (METU)
- Center for Climate Change and Policy Studies
- Bogazici University
- Polar Meteorology Group
- Byrd Polar Research Center
Abstract
Large scale moisture flux analysis was carried out for the Mediterranean Basin in order to increase our understanding of the larger scale atmospheric controls on moisture flux convergence that are related to drier and wetter conditions. The seasonal moisture budget (precipitation minus evaporation) was calculated using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction—National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data for the period 1949–2012. Results of the analysis show that the displacements of prevailing atmospheric action centres located over the subtropical mid-east Atlantic (i.e. Azores high) and the north-east Atlantic (i.e. sub-polar or Iceland low) to the north and to south, respectively, generally determine the wet or dry conditions over the Mediterranean Basin. In winter, the eddy fluxes originating from the mid-Atlantic propagate over Europe providing wet conditions in western and central Europe. The contribution of eddies to the moisture budget weaken in summer for the Mediterranean Basin, because of weaker and less frequent frontal activities in general.
Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 3381-3401 |
Journal | Climate Dynamics |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 4 Mar 2015 |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- Atmospheric moisture budget, Convergence, Mediterranean basin, Teleconnections, Wet and dry, drought