Two-year wind observation in Limassol, Cyprus: Monthly and Seasonal analysis from Doppler LiDAR at the CARO National Facility
Date Issued
September 29, 2025
Author(s)
Abstract
The National Facility of Cyprus Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Observatory (CARO) in Limassol,
managed by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence, is a key ground-based station that offers
complete insights into atmospheric dynamics, supports atmospheric monitoring, and advances
climate research. Since January 2023, CARO is equipped with the HALO (Snoopy) Doppler
LiDAR, a cutting-edge instrument that provides high-resolution vertical and horizontal wind
profiles, offering an unprecedented view of wind dynamics in the region. This study analyzes two
years of wind data (February 2023–January 2025) to investigate the diurnal, monthly, and
seasonal variability of horizontal wind and to estimate the Mixing Layer Height (MLH) using
vertical wind variance calculations. The results reveal distinct seasonal wind speed and direction
patterns that are influenced by both the regional meteorology and the local topography, whereas
the results also suggested that some of the months exhibited strongly similar trends, leading to
their clustering into two main periods: the warm and the cold one. Moreover, MLH follows
diurnal and seasonal cycles, driven by solar radiation and surface heating, showcasing their impact
on boundary layer evolution. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the region’s wind
climatology and intra-annual variability, emphasizing the complex interactions between
atmospheric dynamics, local geography, and seasonal meteorological conditions in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
managed by the Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence, is a key ground-based station that offers
complete insights into atmospheric dynamics, supports atmospheric monitoring, and advances
climate research. Since January 2023, CARO is equipped with the HALO (Snoopy) Doppler
LiDAR, a cutting-edge instrument that provides high-resolution vertical and horizontal wind
profiles, offering an unprecedented view of wind dynamics in the region. This study analyzes two
years of wind data (February 2023–January 2025) to investigate the diurnal, monthly, and
seasonal variability of horizontal wind and to estimate the Mixing Layer Height (MLH) using
vertical wind variance calculations. The results reveal distinct seasonal wind speed and direction
patterns that are influenced by both the regional meteorology and the local topography, whereas
the results also suggested that some of the months exhibited strongly similar trends, leading to
their clustering into two main periods: the warm and the cold one. Moreover, MLH follows
diurnal and seasonal cycles, driven by solar radiation and surface heating, showcasing their impact
on boundary layer evolution. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the region’s wind
climatology and intra-annual variability, emphasizing the complex interactions between
atmospheric dynamics, local geography, and seasonal meteorological conditions in the Eastern
Mediterranean.
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