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Issue No. 3 | 01.10.2004
A New Seasons Definition
P. Alpert , I. Osetinsky, B. Ziv And H. Shafir
Based On Prevailing Synoptic Patterns
Abstract
A new definition for seasons, based on the synoptic classification, is introduced. It uses the automatically classified daily synoptic systems. For the Eastern Mediterranean (EM), the temporal distribution of the synoptic systems over 53 years enables to properly define the timing and duration of the cold rainy, warm dry and of the transition seasons.
Comparison with the astronomical, meteorological and the temperature-based season's definitions following Trenberth (1983), is performed. According to the synoptic definition proposed here and applied to Israel, the winter and summer seasons last each about 4 months (3 months and 23 days). The Israel's "synoptic summer" as well as "synoptic winter" defined here begins at about the earliest starting date - meteorological start, while ending at about the latest ending date - astronomical end.
 
Image: Persian Trough
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About the Authors
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Prof. Pinhas Alpert is a meteorologist, member of the academic staff of the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at the Tel-Aviv University. He is active in a variety of research fields, i.e. Dynamics of Weather Systems, Numerical Weather Prediction, Global Warming and Climate Change and its impact on the East Mediterranean region, Meso-Scale Models, Cyclogenesis and Synoptic Analyses, the impact of aerosols on weather and climate, and others.
* Ms. Isabella Osetinsky is a graduate student. The theme of this article is part of her Ph.D. Thesis.
* Dr. Baruch Ziv is a meteorologist, Lecturer at the Open University of Tel-Aviv. He is the Author of the book "Introduction to Meteorology" in Hebrew (1994).
* Mr. Haim Shafir is a Research Associate at the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at the Tel-Aviv University.
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