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Dominant flood-inducing synoptic and dynamics mechanisms over western and southwestern Iran (case study: extreme rainfall on 11–14 April 2016)

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Abstract

This study is aimed at investigating and identifying dominant flood-inducing mechanisms in western and southwestern Iran. For this purpose, the data of dynamic-synoptic components 11–14 April 2016, including total rainfall, sea level pressure, geopotential heights, the jet stream, potential vorticity at 250 hPa, the Omega index at 500 hPa, moisture flux convergence (MFC) at 1000 hPa, Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), were used for revealing the mechanisms of heavy rainfall events. On the other hand, Meteosat-7 satellite images were used to identify cloud type in the study area. The results showed that the main cause of the heavy rainfall was the formation of Mediterranean low and high pressure on the Aral Lake in the sea level and the presence of an upper-level cut-off low core over the northeastern Mediterranean and the study area. Moreover, analysis of MFC indicated that heavy rainfall moisture sources had been supplied from the Mediterranean, Red, and Arabian seas, respectively. Based on CAPE maps, the core of the maximum potential of convective energy is drawn as a line along the southwest-northeast from the Red Sea to the west of Iran. Meteosat-7 satellite images indicated that cumulonimbus clouds covered the study area during 11–14 April 2016. These results highlight that the intrusion of the southern polar vortex and its flux over the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea provides the conditions for cyclogenesis. The results of this study could serve as a guideline for monitoring and predicting heavy rainfall.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, (H.K), upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Faramarz Khoshakhlagh & Hosein koshky

  2. Department of Physical Geography, Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran

    Hasan Hajimohammadi

  3. Department of Physical Geography, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

    Maryam Teymouri

  4. Department of Water Science and Engineering, Irrigation and Drainage, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

    Shadi Heydari Tasheh Kabod

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  1. Faramarz Khoshakhlagh
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Correspondence to Hosein koshky.

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Khoshakhlagh, F., Hajimohammadi, H., koshky, H. et al. Dominant flood-inducing synoptic and dynamics mechanisms over western and southwestern Iran (case study: extreme rainfall on 11–14 April 2016). Arab J Geosci 16, 43 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-11139-6

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