Capecchi et al. (2026) Can Hot Water Discharged from Industrial Processes Enhance the Likelihood of Waterspouts?

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Atmosphere
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-03-29
• Authors: Valerio Capecchi, Bernardo Gozzini, Mario Marcello Miglietta
• DOI: 10.3390/atmos17040345

## Research Groups -

Short Summary

This study reconstructs the mesoscale meteorological conditions of four intense waterspouts near Rosignano Solvay, Italy, using a high-resolution weather model to assess the potential influence of heated industrial wastewater discharge, concluding that synoptic and mesoscale conditions are the primary drivers, with the industrial plume having only a minor direct impact.

Objective

• To reconstruct the mesoscale meteorological conditions of intense waterspouts near Rosignano Solvay, Italy, and assess the potential atmospheric impact of heated wastewater discharged into the sea by a nearby industrial site.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Mesoscale, with an inner model domain grid spacing of 500 m (sensitivity tests at 100 m). Sea surface temperature sensitivity experiments covered a 10 km² area.
• Temporal Scale: Event-based, reconstructing conditions for four intense waterspout events. Model predictions of instability peaks were analyzed 2–3 hours prior to reported event times. A mass-balance estimate considered a 2-month period for sea surface temperature increase.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: A limited-area weather model.
• Data sources: Reported event times of waterspouts, reported industrial discharge rates, and meteorological conditions reconstructed by the model.

Main Results

• Key mesoscale precursors (low-level wind shear, 1 km storm-relative helicity, maximum updraft intensity, and lifting condensation level) at event times were consistent with values typically associated with EF1 (or stronger) tornadoes and waterspouts.
• The model systematically predicted the peak of instability indices 2–3 hours earlier than the reported event times.
• Sea surface temperature sensitivity experiments (increases of +1.5 K and +5 K over a 10 km² area) showed marginal changes in instability indices, with differences of at most 3% relative to the control run.
• A simple mass-balance estimate suggested that industrial discharge could plausibly increase local sea surface temperature by approximately +0.7 K over two months.
• Synoptic and mesoscale conditions primarily govern waterspout initiation in this region, while the direct effect of the small warm coastal plume from industrial discharge appears to be minor.

Contributions

• Provides a high-resolution meteorological reconstruction and analysis of multiple intense waterspout events in a European hotspot.
• Quantitatively assesses the localized atmospheric impact of heated industrial wastewater discharge on waterspout formation, addressing a specific local concern.
• Demonstrates that while industrial discharge can lead to local sea surface temperature increases, its direct influence on atmospheric instability and waterspout initiation is marginal compared to synoptic and mesoscale drivers.

## Funding -

Citation

@article{Capecchi2026Can,
  author = {Capecchi, Valerio and Gozzini, Bernardo and Miglietta, Mario Marcello},
  title = {Can Hot Water Discharged from Industrial Processes Enhance the Likelihood of Waterspouts?},
  journal = {Atmosphere},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/atmos17040345},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos17040345}
}