Characterization of the mean and extreme Mediterranean cyclones and their variability during the period 1500&thinsp;BCE to 1850&thinsp;CE

Doensen, Onno; Messmer, Martina; Kim, Woon Mi; Raible, Christoph C.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1305-2025

Articles | Volume 21, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1305-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1305-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 7

Research article

|

21 Jul 2025

Research article |

| 21 Jul 2025

Characterization of the mean and extreme Mediterranean cyclones and their variability during the period 1500 BCE to 1850 CE

Onno Doensen, Martina Messmer, Woon Mi Kim, and Christoph C. Raible

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1305-2025-supplement

Data sets

Characterization of the mean and extreme Mediterranean cyclones and their variability during the period 1500 BCE to 1850 CE Onno Doensen https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13619444

ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present Hans Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present Hans Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

Short summary

Extratropical cyclones are crucial systems in the Mediterranean. While extensively studied, their late Holocene variability is poorly understood. Using a climate model spanning 3350-years, we find Mediterranean cyclones show significant multi-decadal variability. Extreme cyclones tend to be more extreme in the central Mediterranean in terms of wind speed. Our work creates a reference baseline to better understand the impact of climate change on Mediterranean cyclones.