Mediterranean sea breezes weaken 17% in Spain, study finds

A new study reveals that Mediterranean sea breezes along the Spanish coast have weakened by 17% since the 1980s, with the slowdown intensifying during summer heat waves. The research, led by the Center for Research on Desertification (CIDE) and published in Scientific Reports, analyzed 41 years of data from 39 weather stations across Spain, France, Italy, and North Africa, finding that 90% of stations recorded a decline in wind speed. Source: abc.es

Key findings

• The average reduction across the basin is 0.095 meters per second per decade, equivalent to an 11% cumulative drop since 1981. Source: abc.es
• Cities with the most pronounced weakening include Barcelona, Tortosa, Menorca, Almería, Castellón, Málaga, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca, where breeze speed fell between 17% and 25%. Source: infobae
• During heat waves, the breeze weakens an additional 4–8%, reducing its cooling effect. Source: infobae
• In winter, sea breezes have become about 10% more frequent per decade, likely due to persistent high-pressure systems. Source: abc.es

Implications

Weaker sea breezes diminish their ability to moderate coastal temperatures, worsening heat stress and potentially trapping air pollution. The study also notes that reduced moisture transport could alter the hydrological cycle. Researchers emphasize that while the Mediterranean warms 20–40% faster than the global average—a factor expected to strengthen breezes—complex atmospheric mechanisms, such as anticyclonic ridges and Saharan air intrusions, are driving the unexpected slowdown. Source: infobae