The volatility presented by the marine heat (Marine Heatwaves) and the atmospheric cyclones in Mediterranean Sea During the last four decades and the correlation between them, it has been highlighting a research by Greek academics at the University of the Aegean and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

According to the findings of the study, their intensity seems to have increased in recent decades, while another element is that the correlation of areas and periods of marine fuels in the Mediterranean Sea and the formation (and evolution) of low -pressure atmospheric systems (and evolution).

This effect is yet another important consequence of seas heating due to climate changeas the researchers point out.

As the Associate Professor in the Department of Oceanography and Maritime Sciences of the University of the Aegean and the authors of the research, Yiannis Androulidakis, explains the study of the correlation of the Syas, Daniel ”, systems called Medicanes.

“These systems are essentially, in addition to other factors that influence and define them, one important are the exchanges with the sea and especially the warm waters that provide them with energy and make them stronger,” says Mr. Androulidakis.

In particular, according to the findings of the study powerful atmospheric cyclones (eg Medicanes – “Mediterranean Cyclones”), which have also hit the Greek area in recent years (eg Zorbas, IANOS) “strengthened” over areas of intense marine fuels. Furthermore, as it is found, the strongest relationships at the Mediterranean level are observed west of Cyprus (northern Levantine), northern Ionian and Gulf of Gulfa, while weaker interactions occur in the southern part of the Mediterranean, where both marine and heating activity are more. The total intensity of marine fuels, measured through their duration and intensity, appears to be linked to the strengthening of low pressure systems in most areas of the Mediterranean. Research also finds that the years/periods of intense cyclonic activity often coincide with strong marine heatwaves, peak of both phenomena in 2018.

As Mr. Androulidakis points out, there has been a trend over the last 40 years for sea heatwaves, in the surface layers of the sea to become more intense, and at the same time it seems that this correlation creates a corresponding tendency to intensify atmospheric systems.

“In specific areas of the Mediterranean, interaction and increasing trends are more intense we wanted to see in which areas of the marine heatwaves, such systems of such systems are formed in the Mediterranean. And some of them were the Ionian Sea, west of Cyprus and the Gulf of Genoa, in France and Italy. In these areas, mainly in the Northern Mediterranean, marine fuel intensification in recent years has been intensified, and at the same time these heatwaves have given energy to create more powerful atmospheric systems, ”he notes, adding that when this system was found to be more than such areas, the more affected areas. Heavy rainfall, than it might have happened if the temperatures of the sea from which it passed were lower.

Mr. Androulidakis also stresses that another element they observe is a “tropical” of the Mediterranean slowly, especially in relation to high recorded temperatures. Such areas, according to him, are the northern seas of the Mediterranean, the northern coast, that is, the coastal areas, which, although theoretically have colder waters than the southern southern, seems to be there more intense the trend that is now heated. “As is, for example, the northern Aegean, such as the Ionian, Adriatic, or areas of South Francethat is, above Corsica and Sardinia. These areas appear to have warmer waters than in the past, ”he notes and adds that the Ionian Sea, for example, is an area that is created at atmospheric cyclones, when the waters are warmed more than they were traditionally, these cyclones are even more intense than they were.

‘For this reason most cyclones affecting the Greece They usually come from the areas of the wider Ionian, central Mediterranean. However, the Aegean, while it is not a traditional area of ​​powerful atmospheric cyclones, barometric lows that evolve in the Aegean, and they are also influenced by the highest marine temperatures and the Aegean in relation to the past, “he says.

At the same time, among other things, research shows that maritime fuel monitoring can contribute to better understanding and prediction of cyclonic systems, offering benefits to both short -term weather forecasts and long -term climate estimates, making it yet another important reason for the need for continuity.

As the Meteorology Professor of the Department of Geology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki explains, one of the authors of the research, among what needs to be emphasized is the need to take into account sea temperatures in simulations and forecasts. According to Mr Pytharoulis, the importance of improving metering systems is also demonstrated. “There are satellites, there are some elements, but the metering systems we have at sea, that is, those that measure marine temperatures, should be improved and increased. We should definitely take into account the severe sea temperatures, because they affect both Medicanes and barometric systems, “he notes, he notes that although the frequency of phenomena remains at the same level what has increased is their intensity.

“These systems have been more intensive in recent years. The other thing that happens is that these systems, the Medicanes while not appearing so often to Greece, in recent years we have seen many affecting our region. It should be noted, however, that they will not only appear in Greece but throughout the Mediterranean and West. But for the time being we have any indications of it. There are very few systems so that statistics can be said to be certain, ”says Pytharoulis.