The 850 hPa relative vorticity centres of action for winter precipitation in the Greek area

• Published in: International Journal of Climatology
• Main Authors: Bartzokas, A., Lolis, C. J., Metaxas, D. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.909; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjoc.909; https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/joc.909

Abstract In this work, the relationship between atmospheric circulation over Europe and precipitation in Greece is studied during high winter (January–February). Specifically, the 850 hPa relative vorticity centres, affecting or related to precipitation in the various areas of Greece, are defined and the corresponding temporal variability of both parameters is examined. Factor analysis is first applied on both fields, in order to reduce the dimensionality of the original data sets. Canonical correlation analysis is then applied on the factor analysis results, in order to interrelate the two parameters. It is found that: (i) precipitation over western and northern Greece, the eastern Aegean islands and the western Turkish coasts is mainly controlled by vorticity over Italy and the Gulf of Genoa; (ii) southern Aegean Sea and Crete precipitation is controlled by relative vorticity west of Crete; and (iii) eastern mainland areas precipitation is significantly affected by a vorticity seesaw between Tunisia and the northern Aegean. The temporal variations of precipitation and relative vorticity parameters over the above areas show a precipitation reduction over most Greek stations, combined with enhanced anticyclonic activity over almost the whole Mediterranean during the late 1980s and the early 1990s, a period characterized by high North Atlantic oscillation index values. Finally, cluster analysis is applied on the factor scores time series of precipitation, in order to classify the winter precipitation anomaly patterns into objectively defined clusters. Six main precipitation patterns were revealed and the corresponding relative vorticity mean anomaly regimes over southern Europe indicate the atmospheric circulation characteristics causing these specific patterns. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society