Research Article

An automated nowcasting system of mesoscale convective systems for the Mediterranean basin using Meteosat imagery. Part I: System description

  1. Stavros Kolios1,*,
  2. Haralambos Feidas2

Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012

DOI: 10.1002/met.1282

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kolios, S. and Feidas, H. (2012), An automated nowcasting system of mesoscale convective systems for the Mediterranean basin using Meteosat imagery. Part I: System description. Met. Apps. doi: 10.1002/met.1282

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, Greece

  2. 2

    Department of Meteorology and Climatology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

*S. Kolios, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene 81100, Greece.

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 21 OCT 2011
  3. Manuscript Revised: 29 JUL 2011
  4. Manuscript Received: 26 APR 2011

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Keywords:

  • forecasting algorithm;
  • mesoscale convective system;
  • Meteosat Second Generation;
  • thermal infrared satellite imagery;
  • Mediterranean basin

Abstract

This study presents the methodologies used to develop a nowcasting system of Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) over the Mediterranean region on the basis of Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) imagery. The nowcasting system is an algorithm that detects and tracks MCSs in Meteosat images and then forecasts the movement and the evolution of the physical properties of a selected MCS through its entire lifecycle, at 15 min intervals. The forecasting procedure combines a linear extrapolation method of the MCS life cycle history and information extracted from conceptual models. As a final output, the system generates a complete life cycle forecast of the temporal evolution of several physical characteristics of the MCS, such as areal extent, displacement, mean brightness temperature and convective potential, and visualizes the forecast by drawing ellipses that represent the MCS with 15 min time steps. Forecasts of a complete life cycle are updated every 15 min in accordance to the acquisition of a new satellite image. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society

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