Articles | Volume 17, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-2289-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-2289-2017
Research article
 | 
13 Dec 2017
Research article |  | 13 Dec 2017

Intense precipitation events in the Central Range of the Iberian Peninsula

Manuel Mora García, Jesús Riesco Martín, José Miguel Sánchez Llorente, Luis Rivas Soriano, and Fernando de Pablo Dávila

Abstract. Intense orographic precipitation associated with the Central Range was analysed using data of maximum accumulated precipitation in 24 h, occurring between 1958 and 2010. The 18 selected episodes were associated with a southwesterly tropospheric flow, a low-level jet, and high moisture flux at low levels. The observed moisture flux was higher than 100 (m g(s kg)−1) and the dry and wet Froude numbers were greater than 1. The selected area to study this synoptic situation was Gredos, broad and high range, which is located in the eastern part of the Central Range and generates a leeward orographic shadow. The effect of the Central Range on the spatial distribution of precipitation on the Iberian Peninsula plateau results in a sharp increase in precipitation in the south of the Central Range, followed by a decrease to the north of this range.

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Short summary
Episodes of intense orographic precipitation in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula have been little studied so far. The relationship with areas of mountain and the analysis of weather indexes make this study interesting. The selected area was Gredos, a broad and high range, and its effects on the spatial distribution of precipitation on the Iberian Peninsula plateau results in a sharp increase in precipitation in the south, followed by a decrease to the north of this range.
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