MEDICANES

The MEDICANES project will comprehensively make a survey of all satellite observations and products available of key sea surface and atmospheric variables for EO-based medicanes characterization, for process understanding and improved forecast and for impact assessment in the realms of atmosphere and ocean. The survey is the reference for the dataset collection and Medicane Atlas as well as for development of new products and tools for Medicanes’ analysis and monitoring. Both LEO (low Earth orbit) and GEO (geostationary orbit) satellite observations will be considered, as well as both operational and scientific missions.

Satellite observations and products of key sea surface, sea state, and atmospheric variables for medicanes’ characterisation and monitoring are considered in this project. These include sea surface wind, sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS), Sea Level Anomaly (SLA), atmospheric water vapour and temperature field, cloud properties (cloud top height, ice water path), deep convection diagnostics, and precipitation pattern and intensity.

Microwave (MW) Radiometry for warm core and cloud properties diagnostics

PMW (passive microwave) temperature sounding channels will be used for warm core detection and characterization (depth, size and intensity) over the MEDICANES climatology time frame (1999-2023) and for the analysed cases. Multichannel PMW measurements will be used for cloud and precipitation structure diagnostics (e.g., cloud symmetry and rainband organization around the cyclone centre), for precipitation processes diagnostics (e.g., deep convection, warm rain processes) and for the development of the algorithm of the detection of the closed eye of medicanes.

Tracking of Medicanes and upper troposphere water vapour diagnostics

GEO VIS/IR imagery will be used to develop AI-based tools for NRT tracking and monitoring of medicanes centre of rotation and closed eye formation, similarly to what is done for tropical cyclones. Water vapour channels will be useful for verification of the upper-troposphere water vapour field and for tracing stratospheric air intrusions and PV streamers, which are generally associated to cyclogenesis or intensification phases.

Ocean Surface Wind from Scatterometers and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

Ocean winds at the highest possible spatial and temporal resolution are required for sea surface winds estimation, for cyclone center positioning, radius of maximum wind estimation , over the MEDICANES climatology and cases in the time frame 1979-2023.

Other Ocean Products like Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Surface Height, Sea Level Anomaly, Significant Wave Height will part of the survey.

Atmosphere, Cloud and Precipitation Products

PMW and MW/IR Level 2-4 water vapour, cloud and precipitation existing products will be used for atmospheric water vapour monitoring, cloud and precipitation monitoring and diagnostics, for model verification and for the analysis of heavy precipitation and flooding. Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery will be also considered for heavy rainfall detection at very high resolution. Moreover, MW/IR precipitation products available at high spatial and temporal resolution will be used in data assimilation experiments.