Jansa, A. (Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, Palma de Mallorca, Spain)
This paper tries to make a general approach to some open questions: Is the Mediterranean meteorology so special to consider it as a specific subject? If so, which are the features which define the singularity of the Mediterranean meteorology? Why is it like it is?
There is a conjunction of visible facts: The Mediterranean area (specially the Western basin) presents the highest concentration of cyclogenesis in the world. The heavy rain events -and flash floods- in the region include the most intense of the extra-tropical world. Some local areas present a surprising high frequency of strong winds.
All these severe manifestations are frequently sudden, short-lived and local and they mean an abrupt contrast with an usually fine and pleasant weather. Therefore it is difficult do not consider as singular and challenger the Mediterranean meteorology.
The only reason for a so singular meteorology is a singular geography. The direct effects of the particular Mediterranean geographical scenario are a) the capability to form a specific air-mass-pool, which can become an efficient energetic reservoir, b) the continous formation of lee-thermal shallow cyclones. These primary effects interact with the extra-tropical circulation patterns to lead to specific mechanisms of cyclogenesis, heavy rain, strong wind. The correspondent conceptual models will be sumarised in this presentation.