Vientos de levante y poniente en el Estrecho de Gibraltar a través del reanálisis de alta resolución COSMO-REA6

Abstract

Regional winds are small-scale processes, both spatial (hundreds of kilometers or less) and temporal (seconds to days). Among them, Levante and Poniente acquire great importance in the Strait of Gibraltar because of its orographic and synoptical properties. Due to the scarcity of meteorological observations, a high-resolution reanalysis, such as COSMO-REA6 (6 kilometers), could strongly help study these processes. A definition of Levante and Poniente has been developed through wind direction and speed criteria. Statistical results from COSMO-REA6 have been compared with observations from the HadISD database (Met Office) in the period (2000-2018). These winds appear in the Strait of Gibraltar about 30% of the days, although not at the same time, with extensions around 21,600 square kilometers that vary by 16,200 square kilometers throughout the year. They also have annual cycles with maximums in winter and minimums in summer.