Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget
This paper presents a detailed analysis of the energy dynamics of the Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, Medicane Ianos, by using a moist static energy (MSE) budget framework. Medicanes are hybrid cyclonic systems that share characteristics of both extratropical and tropical cyclones, making their...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Miriam Saraceni Lorenzo Silvestri Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini |
| author_facet | Miriam Saraceni Lorenzo Silvestri Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini |
| author_sort | Miriam Saraceni |
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| description | This paper presents a detailed analysis of the energy dynamics of the Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, Medicane Ianos, by using a moist static energy (MSE) budget framework. Medicanes are hybrid cyclonic systems that share characteristics of both extratropical and tropical cyclones, making their classification and prediction challenging. Using high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis data, we analyzed the life cycle of Ianos, which is one of the strongest recorded medicanes, employing the vertically integrated MSE spatial variance budget to quantify the contributions of different energy sources to the cyclone’s development. The chosen study area was approximately 2500<sup>2</sup> km<sup>2</sup>, covering the entire track of the cyclone. The budget was calculated after tracking Ianos and applying Hart phase space analysis to assess the cyclone phases. The results show that the MSE budget can reveal that the cyclone development was driven by a delicate balance between convection and dynamical factors. The interplay between vertical and horizontal advection, in particular the upward transport of moist air and the lateral inflow of warm, moist air and cold, dry air, was a key mechanism driving the evolution of Ianos, followed by surface fluxes and radiative feedback. By analyzing what process contributes most to the increase in MSE variance, we concluded that Ianos can be assimilated in the tropical framework within a radius of 600 km around the cyclone center, but only during its intense phase. In this way, the budget can contribute as a diagnostic tool to the ongoing debate regarding medicanes classification. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7c3370f9f364eb09f7bf863aeaa5343 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e7c3370f9f364eb09f7bf863aeaa53432025-08-20T03:14:45ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-05-0116556210.3390/atmos16050562Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy BudgetMiriam Saraceni0Lorenzo Silvestri1Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini2Interuniversity Research Center, CIRIAF, Inter-University Centre for Research on Pollution and the Environment, ‘Mauro Felli’ University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Engineering Enzo Ferrari, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41126 Modena, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, ItalyThis paper presents a detailed analysis of the energy dynamics of the Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, Medicane Ianos, by using a moist static energy (MSE) budget framework. Medicanes are hybrid cyclonic systems that share characteristics of both extratropical and tropical cyclones, making their classification and prediction challenging. Using high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis data, we analyzed the life cycle of Ianos, which is one of the strongest recorded medicanes, employing the vertically integrated MSE spatial variance budget to quantify the contributions of different energy sources to the cyclone’s development. The chosen study area was approximately 2500<sup>2</sup> km<sup>2</sup>, covering the entire track of the cyclone. The budget was calculated after tracking Ianos and applying Hart phase space analysis to assess the cyclone phases. The results show that the MSE budget can reveal that the cyclone development was driven by a delicate balance between convection and dynamical factors. The interplay between vertical and horizontal advection, in particular the upward transport of moist air and the lateral inflow of warm, moist air and cold, dry air, was a key mechanism driving the evolution of Ianos, followed by surface fluxes and radiative feedback. By analyzing what process contributes most to the increase in MSE variance, we concluded that Ianos can be assimilated in the tropical framework within a radius of 600 km around the cyclone center, but only during its intense phase. In this way, the budget can contribute as a diagnostic tool to the ongoing debate regarding medicanes classification.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/562medicanemoist static energy budgetERA5 |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Saraceni Lorenzo Silvestri Paolina Bongioannini Cerlini Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget Atmosphere medicane moist static energy budget ERA5 |
| title | Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget |
| title_full | Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget |
| title_fullStr | Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget |
| title_short | Analyzing the Mediterranean Tropical-like Cyclone Ianos Using the Moist Static Energy Budget |
| title_sort | analyzing the mediterranean tropical like cyclone ianos using the moist static energy budget |
| topic | medicane moist static energy budget ERA5 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/5/562 |
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