RT Journal Article
T1 A MASCOTTE-based characterization of MCSs over spain, 2000-2002
A1 García Herrera, Ricardo Francisco
A1 Barriopedro Cepero, David
A1 Hernández Martín, Emiliano
A1 Paredes, Daniel
A1 Correoso, Juan Francisco
A1 Prieto, L.
AB A 3-year Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) database, which extends from 2000 to 2002, has been built for the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands using the objective method MASCOTTE (MAximum Spatial COrrelation Technique). It was originally developed to track the evolution of convective systems over the Amazon region; after modifications, it is able to track MCS evolution even with an hour and a half of missed images and provides essential information of both dynamical and morphological characteristics of MCSs. MASCOTTE is tested against a visual and subjective method, and is found to offer advantages such as automation and a simple and efficient operation that make it very useful for building large MCS databases. Thirty-five MCSs were found between June and October, most of them originated along the Mediterranean coast and near the Pyrenees, showing an increasing occurrence from June to September, when the maximum is found. The regions most influenced by MCS occurrences are Balearic Islands, Valencia, Catalonia, Murcia and the Basque Country. The MCSs tend to be small, short-lived and linear, usually moving eastward or northeastward with low velocities. The MCSs-associated precipitation presents high variability, ranging from 80 to 0 turn h(-1) as maximum hourly records. Two different convective regions are identified based on MCS behavior in extreme precipitation events: Northern Spain (the Basque Country) with abundant and continuous precipitation regime but little MCS influence, and the Mediterranean coast, where precipitation is sporadic but much more intense.
PB Elsevier Science INC
SN 0169-8095
YR 2005
FD 2005-02
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50987
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50987
LA eng
NO © 2004 Elsevier B.V. We wish to thank the Spanish National Meteorological Institute (INM) for providing the precipitation data used in this paper. Two anonymous reviewers provided useful comments which substantially improved the original manuscript.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 10 abr 2025