Atmospheric conditions favouring extreme precipitation and flash floods in temperate regions of Europe

Abstract - 1 q q ≥ 0.004  kg kg- 1), sufficient latent instability (convective available potential energy (CAPE) ≥ - 1), and weak wind speeds between 10 m a.g.l. and 500 hPa (WS10 m - 500 hPa ≤ 6  m s- 1) proved to be characteristic of intense rainfall that can potentially trigger flash floods. We relied on linear models to analyse 40 years worth (1981–2020) of atmospheric parameters as well as related precipitation events. We found significant increases in the atmospheric moisture content and increases in atmospheric instability. Parameters representing the motion and organization of convective systems remained largely unchanged in the considered period (1981–2020); however, the number of precipitation events, their maximum 5 min intensities, and their hourly sums were characterized by large interannual variations, and no trends could be identified between 2002 and 2020. Our study shows that there is no single mechanistic path leading from atmospheric conditions to extreme precipitation and subsequently to flash floods. The interactions between the processes involved are so intricate that more analyses which consider other potentially relevant factors, such as intra-annual precipitation patterns or catchment-specific parameters, are required.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Atmospheric conditions favouring extreme precipitation and flash floods in temperate regions of Europe ; volume:26 ; number:23 ; year:2022 ; pages:6163-6183 ; extent:21 ; Hydrology and earth system sciences ; 26, Heft 23 (2022), 6163-6183 (gesamt 21)

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Urheber: Meyer, Judith ; Neuper, Malte ; Mathias, Luca ; Zehe, Erwin ; Pfister, Laurent

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.5194/hess-26-6163-2022
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2022121504321412816307
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 15.08.2025, 07:39 MESZ