Spatio‐temporal variations of cloud fraction based on circulation types in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

This paper presents the first systematic study of the relationships between atmospheric circulation types (CT) and cloud fraction (CF) over the whole Iberian Peninsula, using satellite data from the MODIS (MOD09GA and MYD09GA) cloud mask for the period 2001–2017. The high level of detail, in combination with a classification for circulation patterns, provides us with relevant information about the spatio‐temporal variability of cloudiness and the main mechanisms affecting the genesis of clouds. The results show that westerly CTs are the most influential, followed by cyclonic types, in cloudiness in the west of the Iberian Peninsula. Westerly flows, however, do not affect the Mediterranean coastline, which is dominated by easterly CTs, suggesting that local factors such as convective processes, orography and proximity to a body of warm water could play a major role in cloudiness processes. The Cantabrian Coast also has a particularly characteristic cloudiness dominated by northerly CTs. In general, the results found in this study are in line with the few studies that exist on cloudiness in the Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, the results are geographically consistent, showing links to synoptic forcing in terms of atmospheric circulation patterns and the impact of the Iberian Peninsula's complex orography upon this element of the climate system.

An analysis of fog and low stratus life‐cycle regimes over central Europe

“…Regime 1 (purple) covers the central region of the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern Portugal and is the smallest of the five main regimes. As the climate in this region has continental characteristics with a reduced maritime influence (Royé et al, 2019), radiation fog is likely the dominating FLS type in regime 1 (Romaán‐Cascoón et al, 2016). For the subcontinental clustering level shown in Figure 3b, Regime 1 is based on three different regimes, one covering the more continental plateau of central Spain and the other two each covering the east and west of Regime 1 respectively (Figure 3b).…”

Turismo y Cambio Climático: Aplicación del Holiday Climate Index (HCI:Urban) en España en los meses de verano para mediados y finales de siglo

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The Overarching Issues of the European Space = Grandes Problemáticas do Espaço Europeu : A strategic (re)positioning of environmental and socio-cultural problems? Um (re)posicionamento estratégico das questões ambientais e socioculturais?

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