Identification of the Synoptic Causes of Torrential Rainfall Events in the Canary Islands (1950–2020)
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This work identifies and analyses from a synoptic point of view, episodes of torrential rainfall (equal to or greater than 200 mm in a single day) that occurred in the Canary Islands between 1950 and 2020. For this purpose, all daily rainfall series available in different databases were used, with a final selection, after applying various filters for the detection of errors, of 88 days on which 200 mm were exceeded. Subsequently, the isobaric configurations at the surface and at 500 hPa were analysed by applying two classification methods: the automatic one of Jenkinson and Collinson (1977) and the subjective one of Jorge Olcina (1994). Most of the selected days (63.4%) correspond to high-altitude isolated depressions (known by their initials in Spanish as DANAs), as well as troughs showing the advection of polar air of different origins (36.5%). According to the Jenkinson and Collinson classification, half of the days were classified as cyclonic or hybrid cyclonic and 37.5% as pure advective or directional (37.5%), with five days classified as undetermined. On only one day, 23 November 1954, was a tropical disturbance with cloud fronts moving from the south of the Canary Islands along the west coast of Africa observed.
Source: Atmosphere
Authors: Pablo Lucas Mayer Suárez, Ángel Luis De Luque Söllheim
Institution: Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,728
OpenAlex ID: W4405726618