An analysis of subtropical anticyclones in middle levels from North Africa to Iran

Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2020
Pages 129-147

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran

2 Department of Natural Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran

Abstract
This study presents a climatological study of a subtropical anticyclone from North Africa to Iran, focusing on maximum counter-clockwise current. Atmospheric data with a horizontal resolution of 0.25 × 0.25 ° from the European Center for Medium Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) and the ERA5 version have been used. The monthly mean of the data used was conducted over 40 years, from 1979 to 2018. The results show three separate anticyclones in the middle atmospheric levels in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. These anticyclones have a seasonal evolution and reach their maximum intensity in the boreal summer. The maximum counter-clockwise flow in these systems occurred at approximately 650 to 500 hPa levels. High cells in the middle levels also correspond to the maximum counter-clockwise flow, and outside of these levels, the gradient of high cells in the pressure levels is reduced. Air subsidence occurs on the east side of the anticyclones and concentrates northeast of the center of the systems, and does not correspond to the high cells and ridges in the middle levels. Therefore, adiabatic heating due to air subsidence does not play a role in forming high cells and ridges, and their structure is due to the intense sensible heating of the surface and the lower levels in these areas.

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