ESSL [Research - Whirlwind climatology]

ESSL Research

Lesser whirlwind (e.g. dust devil) climatology, 2000-2007

This page will be updated annually, or when significant new data or results are available. The ESWD reporting criteria and thresholds are outlined in the ESWD data format description (ESSL Tech. Rep. 2006-01) available under "Publications".

Whirlwind incidence in Europe

Whirlwind incidence as a primary measure of hazard

This preliminary figure is based on ESWD reports of lesser whirlwinds (e.g. dust devils). The 8yr-period covered is 2000-2007. A reasonably homogeneous pan-European data coverage has not yet been achieved. The quantity depicted is incidence, i.e. number of ESWD reports per year per unit area. On a 1° × 1° latitude-longitude grid spacing, damaging wind reports per year per 10 000 km² has been computed from 2000 to 2007. Due to the short, sub-climatological time period, the peak values in the graph are likely exaggerated compared to the "true" climatology. A range of numbers of about 1 to 2 reports per year and per 10 000 km² is found in some regions in Europe, however.

Whirlwind incidence as a primary measure of hazard
This preliminary figure is based on ESWD reports of lesser whirlwinds (e.g. dust devils). The 8yr-period covered is 2000-2007. A reasonably homogeneous pan-European data coverage has not yet been achieved. The quantity depicted is incidence, i.e. number of ESWD reports per year per unit area. On a 1° × 1° latitude-longitude grid spacing, damaging wind reports per year per 10 000 km² has been computed from 2000 to 2007. Due to the short, sub-climatological time period, the peak values in the graph are likely exaggerated compared to the "true" climatology. A range of numbers of about 1 to 2 reports per year and per 10 000 km² is found in some regions in Europe, however.

2000-2007 whirlwind intensity distribution

Based on the data shown on the above map, the following intensity distribution over F-scale results:

F-scale	F-2	F-1	F0	F1	F2	F3	F4	F5	Sum	All reports	% rated	Avg. reports per year
Lesser whirlwind	-	3	29	2	-	-	-	-	34	98	34.7%	12