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On the vertical structure of Mediterranean explosive cyclones

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Abstract

An attempt is made to explore the vertical structure of the surface explosive cyclones in the Mediterranean on a climatological basis during the cold period of the year in order to get a better insight in the interaction between the upper and lower levels responsible for the genesis and evolvement of the phenomenon. The vertical profile of the explosive cyclones was examined with the aid of the vertical tracing software of the University of Melbourne Cyclone Tracking Algorithm, using the 1 × 1° spatial resolution of ERA-40 reanalysis data. It was found that about 57 % of the track steps of surface explosive cyclones extend up to 500 hPa. The north-westward tilting of the surface cyclones with height during the stage of explosive cyclogenesis, with a mean distance of 350 km between mean sea and 500 hPa levels, confirms the importance of baroclinicity. About 45 % of the surface explosive cyclones reached their maximum depth before their 500 hPa counterparts, implying the role of surface processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Physics-Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, Building PHYS-5, University Campus, 15784, Athens, Greece

    John Kouroutzoglou, Helena A. Flocas & Maria Hatzaki

  2. Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, 3001, Australia

    Kevin Keay

  3. School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australiay

    Kevin Keay & Ian Simmonds

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  1. John Kouroutzoglou
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  2. Helena A. Flocas
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  3. Kevin Keay
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  4. Ian Simmonds
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  5. Maria Hatzaki
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Correspondence to Helena A. Flocas.

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Table 5 Parameters of the vertical tracking algorithm specified for each isobaric level
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Kouroutzoglou, J., Flocas, H.A., Keay, K. et al. On the vertical structure of Mediterranean explosive cyclones. Theor Appl Climatol 110, 155–176 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-012-0620-3

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