Sirocco

Sirocco

"Sirocco", "scirocco", "jugo" or, rarely, "siroc" is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe. It is known in North Africa by the Arabic word qibli (قبلی i.e. "coming from the qibla".)

Origin of name

"Scirocco" and "Sirocco" are Italian names from which its Greek name, "σιρόκος" (sirokos), is derived, while "jugo" is its name in Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia, and "ghibli" in Libya. The sirocco reaching the south of France contains more moisture and is known as the "marin". In the Canary Islands this oppressive, hot, dust bearing wind is called "La Kalima". The name of sirocco in the southwest of Spain is "leveche", and "xaloc" in Catalan. The "leveche" usually carries red Sahara dust and is associated with storms and heavy rain, the wind being very strong, lasting about 4 days. In Malta, it is known as "xlokk". [Encyclopaedia Britannica. [http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-546626/sirocco Scirocco/xlokk] Retrieved on 2007-05-19.]

Development

It arises from a warm, dry, tropical airmass that is pulled northward by low-pressure cells moving eastward across the Mediterranean Sea, with the wind originating in the Arabian or Sahara deserts. [Golden Gate Weather Services. [http://ggweather.com/winds.html Names of Winds.] Retrieved on 2006-12-28.] The hotter, drier continental air mixes with the cooler, wetter air of the maritime cyclone, and the counter-clockwise circulation of the low propels the mixed air across the southern coasts of Europe.

Effects

The Sirocco causes dusty, dry conditions along the northern coast of Africa, storms in the Mediterranean Sea, and cold, wet weather in Europe. The Sirocco's duration may be a half day or many days. Many people attribute health problems to the Sirocco either because of the heat and dust along the African coastal regions or the cool dampness in Europe. The dust within the Sirocco winds can degrade mechanical devices and invade domiciles.

These winds with speeds of almost 100 kilometres per hour are most common during the autumn and the spring. They reach a peak in March and in November, with a maximum speed of about 100 km/h (55 knots).

imilar winds

Other prominent wind systems in the region are the "bora/bura/burja" (northwestern) and the "llebeig/lebeccio/lebić" (southwestern).

ee also

*Bora (wind)
*Etesian
*Gregale
*Khamaseen
*Levantades
*Leveche
*Marin (wind)
*Mistral (wind)

References

External links

* [http://ggweather.com/winds.html Names of Winds]
* [http://1yachtua.com/Medit-marinas/Mediterranean_Sailing/mediterranean_winds.shtm Local Mediterranean winds]


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  • sirocco — [ sirɔko ] n. m. • siroco 1575; ciroch 1538; it. scirocco, de l ar. sarqi « vent oriental »; marocain chergui ♦ Vent de sud est extrêmement chaud et sec, d origine saharienne, résultant des dépressions qui se forment sur la Méditerranée. « Le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Sirocco — Si*roc co (s[i^]*r[o^]k k[ o]), n.; pl. {Siroccos} (s[i^]*r[o^]k k[=o]z). [It. sirocco, scirocco, Ar. shorug, fr. sharq the rising of the sun, the east, fr, sharaca to rise as the sun. Cf. {Saracen}.] 1. An oppressive, relaxing wind from the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sirocco — Sirocco, die glühende Windsbraut mit dem feurigen Schwerte, die auf ihrem Wagen von wirbelnden Sandwolken, Alles vergiftend, Alles verdorrend, daherfleugt über die brennende Wüste, längs Afrika s Gestaden als Samum (s. d.), ihre… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

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  • Sirocco — (Sciroco, ital.), ein drückend heißer, heftigen Schweiß u. außerordentliche Ermattung erregender, sehr austrocknender Südostwind, welcher, von der afrikanischen Küste herkommend, bes. im Frühling, bisweilen auch im Herbst, in Sicilien,… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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  • Sirocco — Sirocco, Scirocco, heißer u. erschlaffender Südostwind in Italien, besonders im Herbst und Frühling häufig; vgl. Föhn …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

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