This research focuses on the pre-development period of Hurricane Isaac that initially formed over the Ethiopian Highlands (EH) region in 2000. EUMETSAT infrared satellite imagery is used to trace this mesoscale convective complex (MCC) back across the African continent and to identify convective genesis and lysis periods during the storm's lifecycle and evolution.

ECMWF 0.5o re-analysis data is used to identify key features and atmospheric conditions that play a key role during the different convective periods that occur during the pre-development period. Specifically, parameters associated with vertical moisture flux will be examined in depth to determine: (1) the source of the vertical motion, which will be split into orographically or environmentally induced, and (2) find the source of the moisture being entrained into the Isaac system.

We hypothesize that the genesis and lysis stages of the pre-Isaac MCC over the North-African continent are controlled by the source of moisture. We will use climatological data and the numerical model simulations to prove this hypothesis.