Radar-Based Analysis of Convective Storms over Northwestern Italy

Abstract

Thunderstorms may cause large damages to infrastructures and population, therefore the possible identification of the areas with the highest occurrence of these events is especially relevant. Nevertheless, few extensive studies of these phenomena with high spatial and temporal resolution have been carried out in the Alps and none of them includes North-western Italy. To analyze thunderstorm events, the data of the meteorological radar network of the regional meteorological service of Piedmont region (ARPA Piemonte) have been used in this work. The database analyzed includes all thunderstorms occurred during the warm months (April to September) of a 6-year period (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). The tracks of each storm have been evaluated using a storm tracking algorithm. Several characteristics of the storms have been analyzed, such as the duration, the spatial and the temporal distribution, the direction and the distance travelled. Obtained results revealed several important characteristics that may be useful for nowcasting purposes providing a first attempt of radar-based climatology in the considered region.

Spatiotemporal distribution of thunderstorm initiation in the US Great Plains from 2005 to 2007

“…Nearly all prior work that used radar data for ‘storm’ identification relied upon the first appearance of reflectivities exceeding some threshold (usually 30–40 dBZ) to define storm initiation (e.g. Potts et al , ; May and Ballinger, ; Gallus et al , ; Hocker and Basara, ; Duda and Gallus, ; Davini et al , ; Smith et al , ; Goudenhoofdt and Delobbe, ). Backwards extrapolation was adopted in this methodology to more accurately assess the environments associated with thunderstorm initiation (Lock and Houston, ); using environments associated with the first occurrence of appreciable radar returns could potentially result in ‘contaminated’ environments.…”

Mesoscale Convective Systems and Their Synoptic-Scale Environment in Finland

“…Throughout most of Europe, the prevailing direction for MCS motion is east or northeast (Schiesser et al 1995;Hagen et al 1999;Morel and Senesi 2002;García-Herrera et al 2005;Rigo and Llasat 2007;Davini et al 2011;Goudenhoofdt and Delobbe 2012). Throughout most of Europe, the prevailing direction for MCS motion is east or northeast (Schiesser et al 1995;Hagen et al 1999;Morel and Senesi 2002;García-Herrera et al 2005;Rigo and Llasat 2007;Davini et al 2011;Goudenhoofdt and Delobbe 2012).…”

Comparison of landslide forecasting services in Piedmont (Italy) and Norway, illustrated by events in late spring 2013

“…The use of quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) by the Cband weather radar is limited to Alpine areas where the radar visibility is good and uncertainties limited. More details on the operational weather radar operated by ARPA Piemonte can be found in Davini et al (2011);Cremonini and Bechini (2010).…”