Synoptic consideration of snowfall in Athens

• Published in: Journal of Climatology
• Main Authors: Prezerakos, N. G., Angouridakis, V. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1984
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370040305; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjoc.3370040305; https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/joc.3370040305

Abstract In this paper an attempt is made to study the synoptic evolution of the barometric systems which cause snowfall in Athens. Some simple statistical characteristics of the snowfall in Athens were found and related to the synoptic evolution. The study is based on the synoptic observations at the Hellinikon Meteorological Station for the period 1956–1973 and upon the mean charts and their anomalies, of 500 mb height, 500–1000 mb thickness and mean sea level (M.S.L.) pressure. Specifically, we examine the annual and monthly variations of snow days in Athens and their relation to the synoptic evolution of two synoptic types, A and B. In type A, the centre of action seems to be a quasi‐stationary wedge of a meridional block which, on the 500 mb charts, is located over the British Isles and NW Europe. This wedge is accompanied by a maximum of positive height anomalies and it steers, on its eastern flank, smaller perturbations which reach Greece accompanied by polar or arctic air. In type B, the centre of action is located over the north of Scandinavia with the form of an Omega block on the 500 mb charts. On the eastern flank of this system, a maximum of vorticity is created moving south‐south‐westwards, arriving over Greece from the northeast.