Homogenizing the Temporally and Spatially Extended Hungarian Wind Speed Database (1961–2024)

High-quality wind speed datasets are essential for climate research, energy planning, and risk assessment. In Hungary, a homogenized and quality-controlled wind speed database covering the period from 1997 to the present has supported numerous climatological analyses. This study presents a significant extension of the Hungarian wind speed database – both temporally (extending the data back to 1961 and forward to 2024) and spatially (from 89 to 125 stations) – to improve long-term trend analysis and regional representativeness.

The homogenization process is conducted in three steps using the Multiple Analysis of Series for Homogenization (MASH) method. First, the period 1961–2024 is homogenized for a subset of 40 stations with long-term records. As many new stations were installed and measurement methodologies changed around the mid-1990s, the second step involves homogenizing an expanded dataset with 71 additional stations for the 1997–2024 period (a total of 111 stations). Finally, the full network of 125 stations is incorporated for the 2013–2024 period, enabling high-resolution spatial analysis for the most recent decade. During homogenization, the detected inhomogeneities of the three station networks are harmonized.

By increasing both the spatial density and temporal coverage of the database, this work contributes to a more robust characterization of the Hungarian wind climate. The final homogenized dataset will be made accessible to the scientific and operational communities, supporting applications in renewable energy planning, infrastructure resilience, agriculture, and urban adaptation to climate variability.

This presentation will detail the methodology—including station selection, metadata, quality control, and homogenization procedures—and highlight key findings from the expanded wind speed climatology.

The present study was carried out within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan Plus program with the support DIMOP Plusz-2.3.1-23-2023-00001 project and the EKÖP-KDP-24 University Excellence Scholarship Program Cooperative Doctoral Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation fund.