Analysis of the connection between precipitation and synoptic scale processes in the Eastern Mediterranean using self-organizing maps

Abstract

This study examines the connection between precipitation in Israel and synoptic-scale weather patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean. Using the method of self-organizing maps (SOM), a classification of synoptic systems is established which separates weather situations with from those without precipitation and identifies synoptic systems causing extreme rainfall. It is shown that by using appropriate parameter settings the method is able to retrieve the typical synoptic patterns of the Eastern Mediterranean and to provide the claimed separation of the clusters concerning the precipitation.