Wind climatology of surface wind patterns in the coastal region of Croatia

Understanding wind climatology and examining wind speed and direction patterns using available measurements, is vital across various sectors, including urban planning, transportation, environmental monitoring, and safety management. Surface air pressure distribution, categorized into distinct weather types, significantly influences surface air flow. This airflow can bring benefits like a refreshing sea breeze on a hot summer evening. However, wind can also pose significant challenges during severe conditions, particularly in the coastal region of Croatia. Therefore, accurately classifying wind characteristics in this region is highly beneficial for effective management and preparedness.
In this work, we used surface data observations from main and climatological meteorological stations over a ten-year period (2013–2022) to classify both strong wind events and characterize their seasonality, and also coastal circulation. 
Intense synoptic systems, such as warm and cold fronts associated with low-pressure systems, as well as the passage of these systems, contribute to episodes of strong winds in the region. Two prevalent local winds, bora and jugo, though distinct in nature and originating from different synoptic systems, can both pose challenges to transportation, maritime activities, and even threats to both people and properties. Those winds are dominant in the colder part of the year. The bora wind occurs during anticyclonic weather types in cases of sudden outbreaks of cold air from north or northeastern part of the Europe, and jugo prevails when there is cyclonic weather type, more specifically it is formed on the front side of the cylone above Medditerranean.
The eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea is characterized by numerous islands and complex topography along the coastline. In warmer part of the year when the synoptic conditions are not intense, an etesian wind known as the maestro prevails in this area. This consistent wind pattern is crucial for temperature regulation during high daytime temperatures and plays a significant role in maritime navigation. Coastal circulation forms under similar synoptic situations, influencing the diffusion of aerosols, temperature regulation, and convection triggering. Finally, the complex indentation of the Croatian coastline, with many islands, necessitates examination of island circulation and its potential interference with the main coastal circulation.