Synoptic tracking and analysis of widespread heavy rainfall of February 2, 1988 in northwest Iran

Sobhani, Behrouz; Kanzi Hagh, Aysan

Synoptic tracking and analysis of widespread heavy rainfall of February 2, 1988 in northwest Iran

Document Type : Origional Article

Authors

Behrouz Sobhani ¹

Aysan kanzi Hagh ²

¹ Professor, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

² PhD student in climatology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili , Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Heavy rainfall every year leads to heavy and unpredictable floods in the world and Iran, which cause severe financial and human losses. The aim of this article is to examine the synoptics of the heavy and widespread rainfall in the northwest region of Iran on February 2, 1988.
Methodology: First, the amount of heavy precipitation that occurred was identified by ground stations in northwest Iran, and by receiving and analyzing upper-level atmospheric data, the key factors for heavy and widespread precipitation were identified. Next, maps of geopotential height, sea level pressure, omega, relative humidity and precipitable water, wind speed, and thickness at the 500 hectopascal level were used for the days of January 31 to February 2, 1988.
Finding and Results: The weather maps for heavy and widespread precipitation on February 2, 1988, in the northwest region of Iran indicate the establishment of a Siberian high-pressure system over northern Iran and the intrusion of a thermal low-pressure system from migrating Europe into the northwestern area under study at the 500 hPa level. This created a steep pressure gradient, where the ascent of warm air, along with the transfer of moisture from surrounding warm water sources such as the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, played a key role in the intensity and distribution of the heavy precipitation in the area in question. In the upper levels of the atmosphere, the formation of omega-shaped and rex blockings, along with deep Mediterranean low formations produced by these blocking systems, which placed the area of study in front of the existing trough axis, combined with the influx of very warm and moist air, led to the continuation of heavy and widespread rainfall on February 2 in northwest Iran.

Keywords

Synoptic analysis

Northwest Iran

Siberian high pressure

European low pressure

Bandali systems

Subjects

Physical geogeaphy

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