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The Climatology of Air-Mass and Frontal Extreme Precipitation pp 83–125Cite as

Air-Mass and Frontal Extreme Precipitation

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Abstract

The occurrence as well as the daily and annual patterns of precipitation are inseparably linked with cloud formation processes. Upward air movement, alongside its sufficient humidity, is a precondition of precipitation. This chapter uses existing studies to discuss mechanisms leading to the formation of clouds. These mechanisms are then used to identify seven origin-based extreme precipitation types, that is, air-mass precipitation and a breakdown of frontal precipitation depending on the front. The chapter discusses the spatial extent of extreme air-mass and frontal precipitation in general and then focusses on the spatial and seasonal variabilities in all the origin-based types of precipitation in Europe.

The spatial extent of frontal precipitation events (defined as the number of stations involved on a single day) is much greater than that of air-mass events. The frequency of occurrence of various origin-based types of precipitation in Europe follows discernible spatial and seasonal variabilities, which are driven by the varying pace of cyclones life and by ground relief. This latter factor also affects cyclogenesis, thus having an influence on the spatial variability of origin-based types of extreme precipitation. A clear majority of extreme precipitation in Europe is linked to weather fronts. In each season, the average proportion of frontal precipitation in the overall number of days with extreme precipitation was several times greater than that of air-mass precipitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland

    Ewa Łupikasza

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  1. Ewa Łupikasza
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Łupikasza, E. (2016). Air-Mass and Frontal Extreme Precipitation. In: The Climatology of Air-Mass and Frontal Extreme Precipitation. Springer Atmospheric Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31478-5_3

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