The importance of the upper ocean thermal vertical structure (mixed-layer depth and stratification) in the control of the precipitation during a heavy-rain-producing mesoscale convective system is investigated by means of numerical simulations. In particular, the fully compressible, nonhydrostatic Euler equations for the atmosphere and the hydrostatic Boussinesq equations for the ocean are numerically integrated to study the effect of the ocean–atmosphere coupling both with realistic initial and boundary conditions and with simpler, analytical vertical temperature profile forcing. It is found that the action of the winds associated with the synoptic system, in which the heavy precipitation event is embedded, can entrain deep and cold water in the oceanic mixed layer, generating surface cooling. In the case of a shallow mixed layer and strongly stratified water column, this decrease in sea surface temperature can significantly reduce the air column instability and, thus, the total amount of precipitation produced.

Meroni, A., Renault, L., Parodi, A., Pasquero, C. (2018). Role of the Oceanic Vertical Thermal Structure in the Modulation of Heavy Precipitations Over the Ligurian Sea. PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 175(11), 4111-4130 [10.1007/s00024-018-2002-y].

Role of the Oceanic Vertical Thermal Structure in the Modulation of Heavy Precipitations Over the Ligurian Sea

Meroni, AN
;
Pasquero, C
2018

Abstract

The importance of the upper ocean thermal vertical structure (mixed-layer depth and stratification) in the control of the precipitation during a heavy-rain-producing mesoscale convective system is investigated by means of numerical simulations. In particular, the fully compressible, nonhydrostatic Euler equations for the atmosphere and the hydrostatic Boussinesq equations for the ocean are numerically integrated to study the effect of the ocean–atmosphere coupling both with realistic initial and boundary conditions and with simpler, analytical vertical temperature profile forcing. It is found that the action of the winds associated with the synoptic system, in which the heavy precipitation event is embedded, can entrain deep and cold water in the oceanic mixed layer, generating surface cooling. In the case of a shallow mixed layer and strongly stratified water column, this decrease in sea surface temperature can significantly reduce the air column instability and, thus, the total amount of precipitation produced.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
air–sea interactions; coupled numerical simulations; Heavy precipitation events; mesoscale convective systems;
English
2018
175
11
4111
4130
none
Meroni, A., Renault, L., Parodi, A., Pasquero, C. (2018). Role of the Oceanic Vertical Thermal Structure in the Modulation of Heavy Precipitations Over the Ligurian Sea. PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 175(11), 4111-4130 [10.1007/s00024-018-2002-y].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/208235
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