Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2125
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2125
25 Sep 2023
 | 25 Sep 2023

The upstream-downstream mechanism of North Atlantic and Mediterranean cyclones in semi-idealized simulations

Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas

Abstract. Cyclogenesis in the Mediterranean typically follows an archetypal scenario with the intrusion of a potential vorticity (PV) streamer over the Mediterranean, which results from a preceding Rossby Wave breaking (RWB) upstream over the North Atlantic. The RWB is amplified by the presence of warm conveyor belts (WCBs) in at least one North Atlantic cyclone about 4 days prior to Mediterranean cyclogenesis. This scenario has been found in several case studies of intense Mediterranean cyclones with a variety of different North Atlantic cyclone tracks and intensities, and different locations of PV streamers intruding the Mediterranean. While four main events (namely North Atlantic cyclone, WCBs, RWB and the resulting PV streamers) are suggested to be necessary for Mediterranean cyclogenesis, they rarely occur in a spatially consistent, fully repetitive pattern. To more systematically study this link between the upstream North Atlantic cyclone dynamics and the Mediterranean cyclogenesis, we perform a set of semi-idealized simulations over the Euro-Atlantic domain. For these simulations, we prescribe a constant climatological atmospheric state in the initial and boundary conditions. To trigger the downstream Mediterranean cyclogenesis scenario, we perturb the climatological polar jet through the inversion of a positive upper-level PV anomaly. The amplitude of this perturbation determines the intensity of the triggered North Atlantic cyclone. This cyclone provokes RWB, the intrusion of a PV streamer over the Mediterranean, and the formation of a Mediterranean cyclone. Therefore, our results show a direct causality between the presence of a North Atlantic cyclone and the downstream intrusion of a PV streamer into the Mediterranean, which causes cyclogenesis about 4 days after perturbing the polar jet, which we refer to as the upstream-downstream mechanism of cyclogenesis. To investigate the sensitivity of this mechanism, we vary the position and amplitude of the upper-level PV anomaly. In all simulations, cyclogenesis occurs in the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the evolution, track and intensity of the Mediterranean cyclones are sensitive to the dynamical structure and intensity of the intruding PV streamer, which itself is sensitive to the interaction of the upstream cyclone and the RWB. By applying different seasonal climatological atmospheric states as initial conditions we show that the seasonal cycle of Mediterranean cyclogenesis indeed depends on the large-scale atmospheric circulation. In particular, we show that the Mediterranean cyclones in these semi-idealized simulations show characteristics that agree with the observed climatology of Mediterranean cyclones in the respective season.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Mar 2024
The upstream–downstream connection of North Atlantic and Mediterranean cyclones in semi-idealized simulations
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
Short summary
Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2125', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Oct 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2125', Florian Pantillon, 30 Oct 2023
  • AC1: 'Author comments', Alexander Scherrmann, 05 Dec 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2125', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Oct 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2125', Florian Pantillon, 30 Oct 2023
  • AC1: 'Author comments', Alexander Scherrmann, 05 Dec 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Alexander Scherrmann on behalf of the Authors (11 Dec 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 Dec 2023) by Michael Riemer
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (15 Dec 2023)
RR by Florian Pantillon (14 Jan 2024)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (28 Jan 2024) by Michael Riemer
AR by Alexander Scherrmann on behalf of the Authors (08 Feb 2024)  Manuscript 
EF by Sarah Buchmann (09 Feb 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes 
ED: Publish as is (16 Feb 2024) by Michael Riemer
AR by Alexander Scherrmann on behalf of the Authors (16 Feb 2024)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Mar 2024
The upstream–downstream connection of North Atlantic and Mediterranean cyclones in semi-idealized simulations
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
Short summary
Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas
Alexander Scherrmann, Heini Wernli, and Emmanouil Flaounas

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Short summary
We show that the formation of Mediterranean cyclones follows the presence of cyclone 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.