Mediterranean winds

wind formation

Wind is the movement of an air mass created by the difference in pressure between two adjacent areas, moving from an area of ​​high pressure (an anticyclone) to an area of ​​low pressure (a storm or depression). There are numerous Mediterranean winds that blow are the Iberian Peninsula and have unique characteristics.

In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the Mediterranean winds, their characteristics and types.

Mediterranean winds

Mediterranean winds types

We have said that the wind is a movement of an air mass created by the difference in pressure that exists between two adjacent areas. This movement is theoretically linear and is affected by the rotational movement of the Earth, known as the Coriolis effect, which means that in the northern hemisphere, the wind moves the isobars at an angle of approximately 25° to 30° relative to Earth: inward in a storm, outward in an anticyclone.

Types of Mediterranean winds

Tramontana: North

This means that it comes from the mountains and is characteristic of the Catalan coast and the north of the Balearic Islands. Also, Majorca's main mountain range is called Tramontana. This is a north wind that can last for days with very strong gusts.

It descends from the northern part of the Pyrenees and crosses the southwestern part of the central massif, where it accelerates towards the northern region of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. At Cap de Creus, gusts of wind can exceed 40 knots (75 km/h).

Gregal: Northeast

It is a wind that seems to be an evolution of the Tramuntana or Levante. It takes its name from the sailors of Catalonia and Aragon. This is the wind they use when they travel to Greece. It is usually dry air, and being from a continental strip, it does not usually produce cloudiness or precipitation. It is a wind that does not exceed 20 knots and is characterized by cold.

Lift: East

This vision bears the name of the southeastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, but does not correspond to any territorial division or autonomous community. It is an easterly wind that occurs when there is an anticyclone in Germany or France.

It comes from the ocean it is rich in humidity and produces a lot of precipitation if a series of conditions are met. Levante winds are one of the strangest and most dangerous phenomena in the Mediterranean. When it blows hard with barometric tides, it can intrude on the coast in such a way that it can cause a lot of damage.

Sirocco or Xaloc: Southeast

importance of the winds

The RAE does not collect it, but according to Wordreference: it is the southeast wind, dry and warm. Beyond the example of Levante, a clear example of how the wind and its impact on daily life permeates culture in general. Sirocco it usually blows in autumn and spring, rarely exceeding 35 knots. It comes from the Sahara desert, so it is a hot and humid wind that causes very high temperatures. These can exceed 40 degrees.

Sometimes this wind can carry fine sand or dust from the desert, filling the air with particles and reducing visibility. This phenomenon is also known as smog.

Migjorn: south wind

Migjorn, or the midday wind as it is called, is because it reaches its maximum intensity when the sun is at its highest point. The phenomenon occurs when a storm in Portugal it forms symmetrically with an anticyclone in Italy, producing southerly winds.

Since the wind comes from Africa, it blows hot and dry, causing the peninsula to heat up. It is often mixed with Siroco and Garbí, depending on the air mass or the topography of the coast.

Garbi: Southwest

haze

This was the first wind I learned when I started light sailing. It is the type that usually blows Barcelona in the afternoon, and it is from the southwest. But be careful, many times, this wind is confused with the warm southwesterly winds that occur along the Mediterranean coast.

Hot winds are created by temperature differences between land and ocean surfaces. Unlike the winds we discuss in this article, these are created by the movement of large volumes of air. Garbí is actually created by a storm moving from west to east in the southern Mediterranean.

Garbí sometimes produces a mist that can be seen on the horizon looking south. In addition, these winds create depressions that cause storms and rain.

West: West

They are rare in the Mediterranean. They are west winds coming from land, so they cause warmer and drier temperatures. They are considered the best option for recreational navigation on the peninsular coasts as they offer sunny days without waves.

If we go too far from the coast, we will have to be careful as the sea can be rough outside the coastal protection. Also, returning downwind can be more expensive, especially for sailboats. That's why they cause waves on the island.

Cierzo: Northwest

Also known as Mistral or Mestral, It is a cold, dry and violent wind. It blows from the northwest towards the Ebro river and the sea of ​​Genoa. It is produced by the nocturnal cooling of the soils in coastal areas and is intensified by the increase in pressure in northwestern Europe. In addition, it increases its speed when it circulates between mountains (Pyrenees, Alps...), it cuts narrow valleys.

Mistral

Mediterranean winds

A northwesterly wind is a strong, cold, dry wind blowing from the northwest. It is usually a gust of wind that increases throughout the day and usually loosens as night falls. If the temperature is much colder than the ocean, the impact on the coast is magnified. It typically lasts three to six days, often leaving behind a strong blue sky as clouds are swept up in its wake.

Northwesterly winds can occur at any time of the year, but from the beginning of November to the end of April, the winds are at their strongest, easily reaching 50 knots, with gusts sometimes reaching 90 knots, and we will have a better chance of meeting with this in spring.

A northwesterly wind is a northwesterly wind created by the opposition of the Azores anticyclone and a storm moving northeast of Europe, forming a cold front heading towards the Alps. The mountains retain the wind, cooling it and directing it towards the Rhône valley, where the speed is increased by the tunnel effect, and finally it flows into the sea through the Bay of León. Winds blowing through the mountains also create a small depression over the Gulf of Genoa or the Tyrrhenian Sea. Northwesterly winds battered the southern coast of France, creating harsh sailing conditions in the Bay of Lions, sometimes stretching as far as Minorca and Corsica.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Mediterranean winds and their characteristics.


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