Weather network
Weather conditions can directly affect the development of port operations and pollution, which is why it is very important to have reliable and up-to-date information. The port's weather network collects this data for planning purposes and records it in order to carry out a climate and air quality analysis.
Data collection
In the port area there are seven weather stations: four of them are exclusively anemometric, which means that they are equipped with sensors that measure the wind; the other three are complete weather stations. Therefore, in addition to the wind, they have equipment that measures atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and precipitation.
The first stations were installed in 1997 at the Dock Dispensary of Bosch i Alsina (01) and in La Sirena at the old mouth of the port (02).
The value of the analysis
The analysis of series of values of the variables registered in the stations provides an image of the behaviour of the weather in the port. The results are expressed in graphs and tables below.
Climatology: the wind variable
The most relevant weather variable for the port is the wind. The port facilities are located between the Montjuïc mountain, the channelling of the river Llobregat, the Mediterranean Sea and the proximity to the thermal island that the city of Barcelona represents. All these elements affect air circulation, so that the winds are highly variable in the different port areas.
In addition to being able to affect the development of port operations, the wind influences the dispersion of air pollutants emitted in the port. Whereas, rainfall helps remove them and reduce their ambient concentrations.
The direction
The predominant winds in winter and in autumn are westerly and associated with the circulation of storms that come from the Atlantic. In spring and, above all, in summer, coastal breezes predominate, especially the daytime marinades that have a southern component.
Weather forecasts
In addition to real-time weather information, the development of port activity requires information on future conditions. The Port of Barcelona has specific wind, temperature and wave forecasts prepared by the Catalan Weather Service (In catalan, SMC) and by the State Ports Public Body (In catalan, OPPE) in collaboration with the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), called Portus.
Planning and warning
These forecasts allow the Port of Barcelona to activate Warnings for Risky Weather Situations and limit the operations in the different docks.
Environment Department
Port of Barcelona
