Search

Browse

• Communities
• Authors
• Year
• Titles
• Subjects

My Space

• Login

Atmospheric circulation patterns associated with flood occurrence in Crete, Greece

Tsanis Giannis, Koutroulis Aristeidis, Flocas H.A., Kaminari M., Simmonds I.

Full record

---

Summary

Cyclones passing over Crete originate mainly from southwest, west and northwest directions andare of varying size and intensity. A number of these cyclones cause flash floods. In this study, anattempt was made to associate the synoptic scale atmospheric circulation patterns prevailing overthe eastern Mediterranean region with flood occurrences in Crete during the period 1991 to 2009.The atmospheric circulation conditions during the flood events were examined based on ERAInterim reanalysis datasets with resolution T255 for spectral field (or about 79km x79km) availablefrom ECMWF. The atmospheric circulation was classified in 6 synoptic types, according to thewind flow and geopotential or pressure pattern at 500 hPa and surface, respectively. The MelbourneUniversity Cyclone Tracking Algorithm was employed to examine the genesis, tracks and depth ofthese cyclones.It was found that in the vast majority of the flood events the respective cyclones develop over theAdriatic and Ionian seas and then affect the western part of Crete. The cyclones are mainlyattributed to the category CLOSE, revealing characteristics of vertically organized baroclinicsystems. The cyclones appear their maximum intensity before they affect Crete, mainly overwestern Mediterranean, implying the synergy of topographical factors. They are mainlycharacterized by long duration and track length.

Services