Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria
In order to answer the question, under which synoptic conditions severe snowstorms over Austria take place, the 16 most striking snowstorms hitting this country between 1986 and 1991 were analysed. The cases were chosen objectively employing statistical techniques. The investigation was carried out...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Borntraeger
1999-02-01
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| Series: | Meteorologische Zeitschrift |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/8/1999/3 |
| _version_ | 1827355742800183296 |
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| author | Gerald Spreitzhofer |
| author_facet | Gerald Spreitzhofer |
| author_sort | Gerald Spreitzhofer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In order to answer the question, under which synoptic conditions severe snowstorms over Austria take place, the 16 most striking snowstorms hitting this country between 1986 and 1991 were analysed. The cases were chosen objectively employing statistical techniques. The investigation was carried out applying the SATMOD-scheme, an interactive system in use at the Central Institute of Meteorology (ZAMG) in Vienna, combining various ECMWF model output parameters and satellite images. Most of the studied cases could easily be assorted into groups of weather events, each marked by a characteristic constellation of meteorological parameters and a typical spatial distribution of precipitation. The most intense snowstorms over Austria (24-hour snow accumulations of up to 170 cm were recorded) come to pass when a strong cold front, associated with an expansive low over the western Mediterranean, sweeps across the Southern Alps. Generally, exceptional snow accumulations over Austria most frequently occur in connection with low-index flow types. Prerequisite for striking snowstorms is a clearly-defined synoptic-scale weather pattern, but the actual triggering is carried out by meso-scale phenomena such as maxima of positive vorticity advection, warm air advection and frontal zones, combined with orographic effects. Another part of the study revealed the specific meteorological reasons for the emergence of vigorous snowstorms over various regions of Austria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:47:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6980324882c04266a25c15165eb8ba84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0941-2948 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:47:40Z |
| publishDate | 1999-02-01 |
| publisher | Borntraeger |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Meteorologische Zeitschrift |
| spelling | doaj.art-6980324882c04266a25c15165eb8ba842024-02-08T08:20:21ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29481999-02-018131510.1127/metz/8/1999/388837Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over AustriaGerald SpreitzhoferIn order to answer the question, under which synoptic conditions severe snowstorms over Austria take place, the 16 most striking snowstorms hitting this country between 1986 and 1991 were analysed. The cases were chosen objectively employing statistical techniques. The investigation was carried out applying the SATMOD-scheme, an interactive system in use at the Central Institute of Meteorology (ZAMG) in Vienna, combining various ECMWF model output parameters and satellite images. Most of the studied cases could easily be assorted into groups of weather events, each marked by a characteristic constellation of meteorological parameters and a typical spatial distribution of precipitation. The most intense snowstorms over Austria (24-hour snow accumulations of up to 170 cm were recorded) come to pass when a strong cold front, associated with an expansive low over the western Mediterranean, sweeps across the Southern Alps. Generally, exceptional snow accumulations over Austria most frequently occur in connection with low-index flow types. Prerequisite for striking snowstorms is a clearly-defined synoptic-scale weather pattern, but the actual triggering is carried out by meso-scale phenomena such as maxima of positive vorticity advection, warm air advection and frontal zones, combined with orographic effects. Another part of the study revealed the specific meteorological reasons for the emergence of vigorous snowstorms over various regions of Austria.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/8/1999/3snowstormsaustriasnow accumulations |
| spellingShingle | Gerald Spreitzhofer Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria Meteorologische Zeitschrift snowstorms austria snow accumulations |
| title | Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria |
| title_full | Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria |
| title_fullStr | Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria |
| title_short | Synoptic classification of severe snowstorms over Austria |
| title_sort | synoptic classification of severe snow storms over austria |
| topic | snowstorms austria snow accumulations |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/metz/8/1999/3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT geraldspreitzhofer synopticclassificationofseveresnowstormsoveraustria |