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Research Article
A new seasons definition based on classified daily synoptic systems: an example for the eastern Mediterranean
Article first published online: 8 JUN 2004
DOI: 10.1002/joc.1037
Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society
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Additional Information
How to Cite
Alpert, P., Osetinsky, I., Ziv, B. and Shafir, H. (2004), A new seasons definition based on classified daily synoptic systems: an example for the eastern Mediterranean. Int. J. Climatol., 24: 1013–1021. doi: 10.1002/joc.1037
Publication History
- Issue published online: 8 JUN 2004
- Article first published online: 8 JUN 2004
- Manuscript Revised: 26 JAN 2004
- Manuscript Accepted: 26 JAN 2004
- Manuscript Received: 13 MAY 2003
Funded by
- US–Israel Binational Science Foundation
- Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, Israel
- Bundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- timing of the seasons;
- length of the seasons;
- synoptic system classification;
- eastern Mediterranean seasons;
- eastern Mediterranean climate
Abstract
A new definition for seasons based on a synoptic classification is introduced. It uses the automatically classified daily synoptic systems. For the eastern Mediterranean (EM), the temporal distribution of the synoptic systems over 53 years enables a proper definition of the timing and duration of the cold rainy, warm dry and of the transition seasons. Comparisons with the astronomical, meteorological and the temperature-based seasons definitions following Trenberth is performed. According to the synoptic definition proposed here and applied to the EM, the winter and summer seasons each last about 4 months (3 months and 23 days). The EM ‘synoptic summer’ and ‘synoptic winter’ defined here begin at about the earliest starting date, i.e. the meteorological start, and they end at about the latest ending date, i.e. the astronomical end. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society