ERA5 Wind Correction Using In-Situ Observations for Long-term Eastern Mediterranean Wind Atlas

Youssef, Hesham Zaki; Galal, Elsayed M.; Tolba, Ehab Rashad

doi:10.21608/pserj.2025.355862.1392

ERA5 Wind Correction Using In-Situ Observations for Long-term Eastern Mediterranean Wind Atlas

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Ports, Shore Protection and Environmental Research Dep., Suez Canal Research Center (SCRC), Ismailia, Egypt.

² Civil Engineering Dep., Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt

³ Civil Engineering Dep., Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt,

10.21608/pserj.2025.355862.1392

Abstract

This research aimed to validate the accuracy and reliability of the ERA-5 Wind Reanalysis dataset by comparing it against in situ wind observations from six international airports in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. A comprehensive evaluation utilizing statistical indicators and time series analysis revealed a systematic error in the ERA-5 wind data, ranging from -5% to 60%. After applying a wind correction factor, the corrected ERA-5 data showed strong agreement with observations, with correlation coefficients from 0.85 to 0.91 and a degree of agreement between 0.90 and 0.95. Additionally, an 85-year Wind Atlas for the Eastern Mediterranean basin was developed, providing valuable insights into long-term wind climate and wind resource assessment. The findings support using the corrected ERA-5 data for maritime applications while emphasize the importance of careful correction and validation. They are crucial for understanding wind-related forces, improving coastal engineering applications, and developing climate change adaptation strategies in the region.

Keywords