Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of orography on the distribution and the amount of precipitation in Epirus, NW Greece, during the cold period of the year. For this reason, a precipitation event with typical wintertime characteristics is considered; i.e. a low pressure system centered northwest of Epirus and moving southeastwards, generating southerly winds and causing extended and heavy precipitation over the area. The case is firstly simulated by applying the numerical meteorological model MM5 in a high resolution grid (2×2km), in which the actual topographical data are incorporated. Then, the model is applied again incorporating modified data of topography, in order to study the differentiations in the fields of the most important meteorological parameters, which are directly related with precipitation. According to the results, the modification of topography changes the flows near the surface, causing a displacement of the convergence zones and thus a new distribution of vertical velocities, which, combined with the new water vapor field, has a direct impact on precipitation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Doyle JD, Durran DR (2001) The dynamics of mountain-wave induced rotors. J Atmos Sci 59:186–201
Hong S, Pan H (1996) Nonlocal boundary layer vertical diffusion in a medium-range forecast model. Mon Weather Rev 124:2322–2339
Houze RAJ (1993) Cloud dynamics. Academic, San Diego
Kain JS (2004) The Kain-Fritsch convective parameterization: an update. J Appl Meteorol 43:170–181
Minder JR, Durran DR, Roe GH, Andres AM (2008) The climatology of small-scale orographic precipitation over the Olympic Mountains: patterns and processes. Q J R Meteorolog Soc 134:817–839
Pathirana A, Herath S, Yamada T (2005) Simulating orographic rainfall with a limited-area, non-hydrostatic atmospheric model under idealized forcing. Atmos Chem Phys 5:215–226
Schultz P (1995) An explicit cloud physics parameterization for operational numerical weather prediction. Mon Weather Rev 123:3331–3343
Smith RB (1979) The influence of mountains of the atmosphere. Adv Geophys 21:87–230
Trigo IF, Bigg GR, Davies TD (2002) Climatology of cyclogenesis mechanisms in the Mediterranean. Mon Weather Rev 130:549–569
Acknowledgments
The research work is co-funded by the European Union – European Social Fund (ESF) & National Sources, in the framework of the program “HERAKLEITOS II” of the “Operational Program Education and Life Long Learning” of the Hellenic Ministry of Education, Life Long Learning and religious affairs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Sindosi, O.A., Bartzokas, A., Kotroni, V., Lagouvardos, K. (2013). The Impact of Topography on the Precipitation Regime over Epirus, NW Greece, During the Cold Period of the Year. In: Helmis, C., Nastos, P. (eds) Advances in Meteorology, Climatology and Atmospheric Physics. Springer Atmospheric Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29172-2_41
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29172-2_41
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29171-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-29172-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)