Analysis of waterspout environmental conditions and of parent-storm behaviour based on satellite data over the southern Aegean Sea of Greece

A frequent area of waterspout formation is identified over the southern Aegean Sea. The objectives of this study are threefold: (1) to investigate the temporal evolution of Cloud Top Temperature (CTT) of cloud lines (waterspouts' parent clouds) that triggered the formation of single or multiple waterspout events, by using Meteorological Satellite Second Generation infrared satellite data, cloud base height data and weather observations from the closest Hellenic National Meteorological Service meteorological station; (2) to synthesize a detailed climatology of the thermodynamic environment during waterspout activity and (3) to explore the sea-surface temperature (SST) seasonal distribution and its possible relationships with the temperature of the middle and lower troposphere during waterspout days over the southern Aegean Sea.It was found that the CTT of waterspout parent clouds decreases close to waterspout formation time, which is consistent with growing clouds. The Severe Weather Threat Index (SWEAT), the Bulk Richardson Number (BRN) and the Convective Potential Available Energy during the autumn season were consistent with a shallow-convection environment. The instability parameter ?T1000 (difference in the air temperature between 1000 hPa and that at other pressure levels) exhibited a symmetric distribution about the median during both seasons and at all levels. More than 75% of autumn waterspout activity over the southern Aegean Sea developed with SST values varying from 22 to 24.5 °C, while the instability parameter ?TSST (the temperature difference between the SST and the temperature at various pressure levels) exhibited a symmetrical distribution about the median for both seasons and for all pressure levels, consistent with the ?T1000 seasonal distribution. A statistical analysis showed that the means of SWEAT, BRN, convective inhibition, SST, ?TSST and ?T1000 from air temperature at 700 hPa differ statistically significant (p < 0.001) between waterspout and non-waterspout days in autumn, over the southern Aegean Sea, during 2005-2012.