Offshore wind climate analysis and variability in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe long‐term offshore wind characteristics in the Mediterranean Sea are assessed using the ERA‐Interim dataset for the period 1979–2014. Three main aspects of the wind climate analysis are examined in detail; the spatio‐temporal behaviour (including variability characteristics) of wind speed and direction for the annual and monthly time scale; the joint association of wind speed and direction for the annual and monthly time scale, and; the wind speed trends and wind direction changes. From this analysis, the systematic wind flow patterns are identified and the general features of the wind climatology patterns are revealed. The most typical examples of stable and intense regional winds are the Mistral (throughout the year) in the Gulf of Lion and the Etesians (during summer) in the Aegean Sea. High values of mean annual variability of wind speed occur over the western part of the basin (Balearic, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian sub‐basins) as well as over the Adriatic and N Aegean Seas, and the E Levantine Basin. Moreover, the assessment of the joint association of wind speed and direction indicates that areas with high values of linear–circular correlation are the ones characterized by intense wind climate. As regards, long‐term changes of wind speed and direction, the linear trend for the former and the angular distance for the latter variable are provided. The fastest increasing wind speed trends are observed in the Ionian, the N Tyrrhenian and N Adriatic Seas, the eastern part of the Algerian Basin up to Balearic Isl. and the western part of the S Levantine Basin while the fastest decreasing ones are observed offshore Monaco, the central Aegean and the E Alboran Seas and the N Levantine Basin. The highest values of angular variance and mean angular distances are depicted for the Ligurian, Balearic and Alboran Seas.