High-Resolution Climatology of Near-Surface Wind over Greece (1991–2020) Based on a Regional Reanalysis

Abstract

Wind influences human activities both directly and indirectly. Directly, it affects, among others, transportation and wind energy systems through its direction and intensity, while extreme wind events can cause severe damage to infrastructure and buildings and even casualties. Indirectly, the movement of air masses is strictly associated with all meteorological phenomena, highlighting the crucial role of wind in shaping weather conditions. In the context of climate change, anomalies in global and regional circulation patterns modify the characteristics of surface winds. Consequently, investigating long-term wind variability and trends is essential for assessing climate change impacts on the environment and society. The climatology of near-surface (10 m) winds over Greece for the period 1991–2020 is examined using a high-resolution regional reanalysis dataset, focusing on the mean wind speed, mean daily maximum wind gust, and the frequency of strong-wind days. The results reveal substantial spatial and temporal variability, with the most pronounced upward trends of these parameters observed over the Aegean Sea and northeastern Greece. Statistically significant trends are detected mainly during winter and summer. In particular, January and August exhibit the strongest positive trends, locally exceeding 0.05 m s−1 per year for mean wind speed and 0.1 m s−1 per year for mean daily maximum wind gust. Moreover, the frequency of strong-wind days increases in several regions with local trends exceeding 0.2 days per year. These findings highlight the value of high-resolution regional reanalyses for characterizing near-surface wind variability and trends over areas of complex terrain.