Περίληψη:
The effectiveness of a number of forecasting indices for non-frontal
thunderstorm activity has been investigated for the Greater Cyprus area.
The indices include the humidity index (HI), the Pickup index (PI), the
K-stability index, the Yonetani index in its original II and modified
II(c) form, and the Showalter stability index (SSI) for the
Mediterranean area. Combinations of some of these indices with
information of the flow curvature are also considered.
Two data sets, representative of coastal and inland locations are used
to evaluate the accuracy of these indices. Verification statistics
indicate that Yonetani’s indices II and II(c) are more successful than
the HI, PI, and K indices in the forecast of air mass thunderstorms.
The addition of the flow curvature at 500 hPa improves the effectiveness
of most indices and its inclusion should be seriously considered for the
Eastern Mediterranean area.
