Interaction between Medicanes and the Mediterranean Sea: Investigating Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies in the path of medicanes and the Case study of Medicane Daniel, the Deadliest Mediterranean Cyclone

This study focused on four Mediterranean Sea (MS) cyclones classified as medicanes: Zorbas, Ianos, Apollo, and Daniel. Each of these cyclones traversed warm-core eddies (WCEs) during their propagation. We explored the influence of these eddies on the cyclones' development and examined how the eddies, including their biogeochemical properties, responded to the passage of the cyclones. Cyclones Zorbas and Apollo intensified considerably in close proximity to the WCEs. The intensification was accompanied by moisture convergence, yielding substantial precipitation. Additionally, chlorophyll-a concentrations and Phytoplankton increased after the cyclone passed over a WCE. Cyclone Ianos, the strongest recorded cyclone in the MS, underwent only marginal intensification above the WCE. However, in this case, a strong marine heatwave (MHW) was present later during the intensification, releasing more latent and sensible heat fluxes due to the high ocean heat content (OHC). Medicane Daniel has stood out as the deadliest recorded storm in Mediterranean history. Our analysis identified the presence of a WCE (OHC) and a moderate MHW at the location where the medicane intensified. These conditions led to high moisture convergence, increased total column water, and significant precipitation. Since the WCE and MHW features were situated near the coastal region, the medicane reached its maximum intensity just before landfall, potentially contributing to the reported severe damage in Libya. In the case of Ianos and Daniel, chlorophyll-a concentrations and Phytoplankton increased at the MHW location. All four cyclones responded similarly to elevated temperatures at the mesoscale (i.e., WCE) and regional scale (i.e., MHW). Our results stress the importance of mesoscale and regional SST variability and how they may regulate extreme storms like medicanes.