A 4-Year Climatological Analysis Based on GPM Observations of Deep Convective Events in the Mediterranean Region

Since early March 2014, the NASA/JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement Core- Observatory (GPM-CO) satellite has allowed analysis of precipitation systems around globe, thanks to capabilities GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) and Dual-Frequency Radar (DPR). In this work, we demonstrate how GPM-CO measurements obtained from 4 years observations over Mediterranean area can be used as an extremely effective tool study main climatological characteristics most intense storm structures. DPR GMI-based Features (PFs) parameters are proxies vertical structure microphysical properties these events, their statistical distribution is analyzed identify extremes. The annual, seasonal geographical identified deep convective highlights substantial differences in diurnal cycle between land-sea summer-winter. There a general shift south (mostly sea) cold season, north land) warm season. shows also that inferred intensity not always related heavy precipitation. Known criteria were adopted overshooting top events potential hailstorms, extreme convection signatures, like those observed for tropical subtropical systems, occur mostly sea. Although limited four years, results show offers unprecedented characterize weather region, with unique potentials future long-term climatology interannual variability analysis.