Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica

Abstract Cyclones, whether tropical, extratropical, or of Mediterranean origin, play a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, affecting environments and populations through strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. While much research has focused on tropical and extratropical cyclones, Medite...

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Main Authors: Yihua Zhong, Sébastien Guillet, Christophe Corona, Adrien Favillier, Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas, Frédéric Huneau, Jiazhi Qie, Markus Stoffel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01836-3
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author Yihua Zhong
Sébastien Guillet
Christophe Corona
Adrien Favillier
Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas
Frédéric Huneau
Jiazhi Qie
Markus Stoffel
author_facet Yihua Zhong
Sébastien Guillet
Christophe Corona
Adrien Favillier
Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas
Frédéric Huneau
Jiazhi Qie
Markus Stoffel
author_sort Yihua Zhong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cyclones, whether tropical, extratropical, or of Mediterranean origin, play a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, affecting environments and populations through strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. While much research has focused on tropical and extratropical cyclones, Mediterranean cyclones have received less attention. These cyclones are generally weaker, smaller, and shorter-lived than their tropical or mid-latitude counterparts. However, recent events, such as Mediterranean cyclone Daniel in 2023, which caused severe flooding and thousands of deaths in Libya, underscore the major threat Mediterranean cyclones pose. In this study, we investigate the role of Mediterranean cyclones in triggering floods in Corsica, a region frequently affected by these storms. By analyzing cyclone tracks, streamflow data, and flood-related damage records from Corsica, we reveal a notable rise in river discharge linked to Mediterranean cyclones and show that they contributed to some of the most destructive floods recorded in Corsica between 1979 and 2020.
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issn 2662-4435
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Communications Earth & Environment
spelling doaj-art-d26513a2adce44ff8cf6d66d0d122e8d2025-08-20T02:22:30ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352024-11-01511910.1038/s43247-024-01836-3Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in CorsicaYihua Zhong0Sébastien Guillet1Christophe Corona2Adrien Favillier3Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas4Frédéric Huneau5Jiazhi Qie6Markus Stoffel7Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-National Museum of Natural Sciences, Spanish Research Council, MNCN-CSIC, C/ Serrano 115bisCNRS, UMR 6134, SPEClimatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Boulevard Carl Vogt, CH-Abstract Cyclones, whether tropical, extratropical, or of Mediterranean origin, play a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, affecting environments and populations through strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. While much research has focused on tropical and extratropical cyclones, Mediterranean cyclones have received less attention. These cyclones are generally weaker, smaller, and shorter-lived than their tropical or mid-latitude counterparts. However, recent events, such as Mediterranean cyclone Daniel in 2023, which caused severe flooding and thousands of deaths in Libya, underscore the major threat Mediterranean cyclones pose. In this study, we investigate the role of Mediterranean cyclones in triggering floods in Corsica, a region frequently affected by these storms. By analyzing cyclone tracks, streamflow data, and flood-related damage records from Corsica, we reveal a notable rise in river discharge linked to Mediterranean cyclones and show that they contributed to some of the most destructive floods recorded in Corsica between 1979 and 2020.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01836-3
spellingShingle Yihua Zhong
Sébastien Guillet
Christophe Corona
Adrien Favillier
Juan Antonio Ballesteros Cánovas
Frédéric Huneau
Jiazhi Qie
Markus Stoffel
Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
Communications Earth & Environment
title Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
title_full Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
title_fullStr Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
title_full_unstemmed Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
title_short Mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in Corsica
title_sort mediterranean cyclones are a substantial cause of damaging floods in corsica
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01836-3
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