Bora wind creates spectacular patterns on the Adriatic Sea
This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, showcases a striking phenomenon caused by the bora wind over the Adriatic Sea between Croatia's Dalmatian coast and the island of Pag.
On the day the image was acquired, the bora - a strong katabatic wind blowing from the land - reached speeds of more than 100 km/h. As it descended through the mountainous terrain along the Croatian coast, the wind accelerated, creating short, choppy waves that broke into distinctive white foam. The parallel streaks visible on the sea surface reflected the interaction between wind and water, forming linear patterns aligned with the direction of the wind. The relatively shallow and narrow waters of the Adriatic intensified the effect, causing the waves to foam more easily.
Bora winds can impact navigation. The Copernicus Marine Service supports the optimisation of navigation routes by providing high-resolution ocean data, including wind, wave, and current forecasts.
