Notes and correspondence thermodynamics of Eastern mediterranean rainfall variability

Abstract

This note focuses on thermodynamic changes caused by Eastern Mediterranean (EM) subsidence anomalies. Subsidence anomalies are shown to modulate EM-wide stability with respect to moist ascent. Additionally, convective available potential energy (CAPE) generation rates, as well as mean CAPE, change coherently during extreme EM rainfall anomalies. It is suggested that the resulting modulation of convective rain generation is the process directly responsible for the observed rainfall anomalies.