Medicanes

Context:

Scientists have warned that the extra-tropical storms in the Mediterranean Sea, known as ‘Medicanes’ or ‘Mediterranean Hurricanes’, could become more frequent due to human-induced climate change.

About Medicanes

• Medicanes are tropical-like cyclones formed over the Mediterranean Sea. 

• With the surrounding dry climate and the relatively shallow waters of the sea, the occurrence of tropical-like cyclones is infrequent.

• They typically form in the fall or winter months and occur once or twice a year.

Comparison with Hurricanes

• Medicanes occur more in relatively colder waters than hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons. 

• The cores of these storms are also cold, as compared to the warm cores of Hurricanes and tropical cyclones.

• These are typically smaller in diameter and have lower wind speeds than Hurricanes.

Reasons of Frequent Occurrence and Threats

• Due to global warming, warmer sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean can allow the storms to take on more tropical appearances and characteristics, increasing the wind speeds and making the storms more intense and cause heavier rainfall.

• Increase in frequency of Medicanes will be a threat for already vulnerable populations living in North Africa, possibly triggering human migration.

• Medicanes could also be a menace for European countries like Italy and Greece.