MEDICANES

Among the most prominent hydrometeorological risks in the Mediterranean region is the occurrence of medicanes, namely storm-systems that attain the structural characteristics of actual tropical cyclones. Medicanes have been widely documented to inflict important socio-economic impacts in the region. Therefore, the overarching objective of this project is to address these catastrophic systems in an integrated approach that aims to improve the numerical weather prediction of theses systems, monitor their development and assess their impacts. The project strongly relies on the use of already and newly available Earth observations (EO) for the ends of characterizing the physical structure of medicanes and for objectively determining the unique characteristics that grant to these systems a physical resemblance to their tropical counterparts. Moreover, EO-based tools based on AI will be developed for near-real time tracking and monitoring. In addition, novel modeling and non-conventional data assimilation approaches will complement EOs to better assess and predict the dynamics that lead to high-impact weather. These modeling approaches include both atmospheric and oceanic simulations in very high resolutions in order to better understand the hazards due to medicanes even in local level. A dedicated website will host new information about the physical characterization of medicanes with exemplary cases that allow the identification of the unique characteristics that discern these sytems from other Mediterranean storms. Finally, an Atlas of previous medicane occurrences will serve scientific and operational purposes of stakeholders. In these regards, MEDICANE will provide also a dedicated analysis of relevant socio-economic impacts, aiming thus to contribute to future mitigation strategies.