Thermodynamics of Eastern Mediterranean Rainfall Variability
Gidon Eshel
and
Brian F. Farrell
Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, Vol. 58(1), pp. 87-92, January 1 2001
Abstract
This note focuses on thermodynamic changes caused by Eastern
Mediterranean (EM) subsidence anomalies. Subsidence anomalies are
shown to modulate EM-wide stability with respect to moist
ascent. Additionally, convective available potential energy (CAPE)
generation rates, as well as mean CAPE, change coherently during
extreme EM rainfall anomalies. It is suggested that the resulting
modulation of convective rain generation is the process directly
responsible for the observed rainfall anomalies.