Sirocco

Sirocco
The winds of the Mediterranean

Sirocco, scirocco, /srko/, jugo or, rarely, siroc (Catalan: Xaloc, Greek: ) is a Mediterranean wind that
comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe. It is derived from the
North African Arabic word for south qibli ( )etymologically derived from the word "qibla".

Origin of name
Scirocco and Sirocco are from the Greek name, "" (sirokos),
while ghibli is its name in Libya. The name jugo, pronounced[jo],
used in Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Hercegovina,
Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic comes from
the Slavic word jug, which means south. The origin of the Italian
"scirocco" might be related to the Arabic sharq "eastern", for
easterly wind. The sirocco reaching the south of France is much dryer
than the marin, which is a warm, humid wind also moving to the
northwest. In the Canary Islands this oppressive, hot, dust bearing wind
is called la calima. The name of sirocco in the southeast of Spain is
A sirocco from Libya blowing dust over the
Mediterranean, Malta, Italy, Croatia,
leveche, and xaloc (pronounced "shaLOC") in Catalan. The leveche
Montenegro, Albania and Greece
usually carries red Sahara dust and is associated with storms and heavy
rain, the wind being very strong, lasting about four days. In Portugal, it
is known as siroco and xaroco. In Malta, it is known as xlokk.[1] In Levantine Arabic (Lebanon, Syria) a similar wind
is referred to as shlq.

Sirocco

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.[2] 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
cool wet weather in Europe. The Sirocco's duration may be as short as half a day or may last several days. Many
people attribute health problems to the Sirocco either because of the heat and dust along the African coastal regions
or because of the cool dampness in Europe. The dust within the Sirocco winds can cause abrasion in mechanical
devices and penetrate buildings.
Sirocco winds with speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour are most common during the autumn and the spring.
They reach a peak in March and in November when it is very hot, with a maximum speed of about 100km/h (55
knots).
Combined with a rising tide, Sirocco is a factor responsible for the Acqua Alta phenomenon in the Venetian Lagoon.

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

References
[1] Encyclopaedia Britannica. Scirocco/xlokk (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ topic-546626/ sirocco) Retrieved on 2007-05-19.
[2] Golden Gate Weather Services. Names of Winds. (http:/ / ggweather. com/ winds. html) Retrieved on 2006-12-28.

External links
Names of Winds (http://ggweather.com/winds.html)
Local Mediterranean winds (http://1yachtua.com/Medit-marinas/Mediterranean_Sailing/
mediterranean_winds.shtm)

Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "sirocco". Encyclopdia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Sirocco Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=583440223 Contributors: Andrej alov, Andres, Aradic-es, Aye theone, Bob Burkhardt, CALR, CCooke, Catgirl, ChemTerm, Chili,
Cplakidas, Creidieki, Ccero, DanMS, Deflective, Disdero, DocWatson42, Doncsecz, Doofusburger1337, DopefishJustin, Edolen1, Eleassar, Ewlyahoocom, Fabio273, Fallacia83, FreplySpang,
Froik, Future Perfect at Sunrise, Gabriel Kielland, Gilgamesh, HorsePunchKid, Huon, IQAG1060, Iamthecheese44, Ian Spackman, Illexsquid, Jarble, JavierMC, Jen8, Johanna-Hypatia, John C
PI, Joy, KTo288, Kwamikagami, Look2See1, Maher27777, Maximaximax, Menchi, Miranche, Mirv, Mschlindwein, Nilmerg, Noirish, Obradovic Goran, OfLogic, Oreo Priest, PBS-AWB,
Paxse, Proton donor, Puffin, Pwqn, Quant18, Quota, Requestion, Romanskolduns, ST47, Sbisolo, Senorpepr, Skyring, Smithfarm, Snowolf, Snoyes, SoLando, Stephan Leeds, Tegrenath, Tgeairn,
TheDJ, Thegreatdr, TubularWorld, WhisperToMe, Wouterhagens, Writtenright, Zigger, ZxxZxxZ, , 81 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image:Sirocco from Libya.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sirocco_from_Libya.jpg License: unknown Contributors: Helt, Tangopaso, TheDJ, Wouterhagens
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