| ABSTRACT | The Mediterranean Sea (MS) region is characterized by diverse and unique geography. The complex geographical features of MS, as well as remote effects from the Atlantic sector, facilitates favorable conditions for cyclone genesis and maintenance. Despite the crucial role of warm-core eddies (WCEs) in the intensification of the cyclones, they are insufficiently explored, especially over the MS. In this study, the role of WCEs (size, intensity, and area) on the track and intensity of the atmospheric cyclones have been analyzed in the MS, considering four cyclones, namely Zorbas (27 Sep-2 Oce 2018), Boron (20-23 Sep. 2018), Numa (15-20 Nov 2017) and Messala (30 Sep -2 Oce 2015). For this analysis, Sea Level Anomaly (SLA), Ocean temperature and salinity profiles archived from the Copernicus marine services (CNMS), together with high-resolution daily SST data from NOAA OI SST V2, have been utilized. Atmospheric parameters (Latent heat Flux, Sensible heat fluxes, pressure, wind at 10-meter height, and total precipitation) are obtained from the ERA5 reanalysis. Analysis infers a sudden drop (increase) in the pressure (wind speed) over the WCEs. It is also observed from the analyses that the size and extent of the eddy strongly modulate the latent and sensible heat flux exchange, leading to cyclone intensification. It is observed that larger (smaller) size and extent eddies are responsible for more (less) heat exchange and more (less) precipitation. The Brunt–Väisälä frequency (N square) analysis reveals relatively stable subsurface over eddies locations compared to non-eddies locations. Thus, less mixing in the stratified ocean restricts the entrainment of the subsurface cooler water to the surface and leads to surface warming, which results in an intensification of the cyclones in the presence of WCEs. |