Skip to main content
Log in

Mesoscale Convective Complexes over the Western Mediterranean area during 1990–1994

  • Published:
Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) data registers from June to December during 1990–94 were obtained from the Spanish National Meteorological Institute (INM). Fifteen Mesoscale Convective Complexes (MCCs) were identified through this database. Most of the MCCs developed during the last week of September. The dominant synoptic patterns related to the mesoscale systems were cold fronts at the surface with warm and moist low-level cores, and cut-off low or deep trough throughout the middle and upper levels. These synoptic patterns were found in all the fifteen cases studied.

The hourly centroid location of each MCC was used to trace their tracks, which followed a general direction towards the E or NE in almost all cases. These trajectories are clearly related to the synoptic patterns found. Finally, two MCCs chosen as representative of their evolution are described and the related physical processes are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberoni, P. P., Nanni, S., Crespi, M., Monai, M., 1996: The Supercell Thunderstorm on 8 June 1990: Mesoscale Analysis and Radar Observations.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys. 58, 123–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustine, J., Howard, K. W., 1988: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1985.Mon. Wea. Rev.,116, 685–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Augustine, J., Howard, K. W., 1991: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1986 and 1987.Mon. Wea. Rev.,119, 1575–1589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bringi, V. N., Liu, L., Kenedy, P. C., Chandrasekar, V., Rutlege, S., 1996 Dual Multiparameter Radar Observations of Intense Convective Storms: the 24 June 1992 Case study.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,59, 3–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cana, L. C., 1997: Desarrollo de la actividad frontogenetic en diferentes situaciones de precipitacion intensa. Ph. D. Thesis, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 197 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canalejo, M., Carretero, O., Riosalido, R., 1993: Sistemas Convectivos de Mesoescala. Tech. Note-9 I. N. M., 136 pp.

  • Canalejo, M., Carretero, O., Riosalido, R., 1994: Sistemas Convectivos de Mesoescala. Tech. Note-14 I. N. M., 54 pp.

  • Carretero, O., Canalejo, M., Riosalido, R., 1993: Sistemas Convectivos de Mesoescala. Tech. Note-12 I. N. M., 122 pp.

  • Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, 1995: Annual Report. Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda, Madrid, Spain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elvira, B., Carretero, O., Riosalido, R., 1996: Sistemas Convectivos de Mesoescala. Tech. Note-24. I. N. M., 146 pp.

  • Fernández, C., Gaertner, M. A., Gallordo, C., Castro, M., 1995: Simulation of a Long-Lived Meso-β Scale Convective System over the Mediterranean Coast of Spain. Part I: Numerical Predictability.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,56, 157–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galway, J. G., 1956: The Lifted Index as a predictor of Latent Instability.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,37, 528–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J. J., 1960:Weather Forecasting for Aeronautics. New York: Academic Press, 673 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández, E., García, R., del, Teso, M. T., 1987: Evidencia del desarrollo de ondas frontales en las inundaciones de Levante de octubre de 1982.Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales,81, (2), 299–314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández E., Díaz, J., Cana, L. C., García, A., 1995: Analysis of the atmosphere behavior in the proximities of an orographic obstacle.Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics,2, 30–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenan, T. D., Ferrier, B., Simpson, J., 1994: Development and structure of a maritime continent thunderstorm.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,53, 185–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyser, D., Johnson, D. R., 1984: Effects of diabatic heating on the ageostrophic circulation of an upper tropospheric jet streak.Mon. Wea. Rev.,112, 1709–1724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, C. A., Rappaport, E. N., 1987: The life cycle and internal structure of a mesoscale convective complex.Mon. Wea. Rev.,115, 1503–1527.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loehrer, S., Johnson, R. H., 1995: Surface pressure and precipitation life cycle characteristics of PRE-STORM Mesoscale Convective Systems.Mon. Wea. Rev.,123, 600–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddox, R. A., 1980: Mesoscale convective complexes.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,61, 1374–1387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddox, R. A., Rodgers, D. M., Howard, K. W., 1982: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1981 — annual summary.Mon. Wea. Rev.,110, 1501–1514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, F., Elizaga, F., Carretero, O., Riosalido, R., 1994: Sistemas convectivos de Mesoescala. Tech. Note-15.I.N. M., 136 pp.

  • McAnelly, R. L., Cotton, W. R., 1989: The precipitation life cycle of measoscale convective complexes over the central United States.Mon. Wea. Rev.,117, 784–808.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. C., 1972: Notes on analysis and severe-storm forecasting procedures of the Air force Global Weather Central. Air Weather Tech. Rep. 200, Air Weather Service, Scott Air Force Base.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D., Fritsch, J. M., 1991: Mesoscale convective complexes in the Western Pacific region.Mon. Wea. Rev.,119, 2978–2992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, D. M., Howard, K. W., Johnston, E. C., 1983: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United States during 1982—annual summary.Mon. Wea. Rev.,111, 2363–2369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, D. M., Magnano, M. J., Arns, J. H., 1985: Mesoscale convective complexes over the United State during 1983.Mon. Wea. Rev.,113, 888–901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trier, S. B., Parsons, D. B., Clark, J. H., 1991: Environment and evolution of a cold frontal mesoscale convective system.Mon. Wea. Rev.,119, 2429–2455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ucellini, L. W., 1986: The possible influence of upstream upper-level baroclinic processes on the development of the QEII storm.Mon. Wea. Rev.,114, 1019–1027.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisman, M. L., Klemp, J. B., 1984: The structure and classification of numerically simulated convective storms in directionally varying wind shears.Mon. Wea. Rev.,112, 2479–2498.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

With 14 Figures

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hernández, E., Cana, L., Díaz, J. et al. Mesoscale Convective Complexes over the Western Mediterranean area during 1990–1994. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 68, 1–12 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01025379

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01025379

Keywords

Navigation