Preliminary analysis of a strong mid-Adriatic bora event

While extreme bora winds in the northern Adriatic were since long in the focus of the relevant research, strong bora winds in the hinterland of Dalmatian coast are much less studied, yet frequent phenomenon in the region. Being generally less severe than its northern counterpart, these winds are also a powerful potential source of wind energy. However, the actual harvesting of these bora winds is typically considerably constrained by its turbulent properties.

A late winter case of a strong bora event in the mid-Adriatic was analysed with the use of measurements and numerical experiments carried out with the WRF model. The analysis utilized three ultrasonic anemometers at 10 m, 22 m and 40 m levels and two additional classic cup and vane anemometers at 30 m and 60 m levels. The event was simulated with a number of numerical experiments performed with the WRF model at sub-kilometer horizontal scales.

The preliminary results assessing the observed and modelled properties of the selected bora event are presented. The observed and modelled turbulent properties, such as momentum fluxes and turbulent kinetic energy enabled the evaluation of the model performance as well as the assessment of the validity of similarity theory in the surface layer during the event. Certain differences in the bora subtle structure there and over the northern areas, the latter pertaining to more known bora cases, are pointed out.