A simulation with the Méso-NH model over the island of Mallorca, Spain, has been made in a case of synoptic high pressure (5 June 2010) that allowed the development of sea breezes (SB) in the three main basins of the island. The results compare well to the available observations and are qualitatively very close to a previous idealized study with no synoptic forcing made by Ramis and Romero in 1995. The temporal and spatial structure of the SB in the southeastern basin is analyzed with the use of the momentum, temperature, and turbulence kinetic energy budgets provided by the numerical model. Five stages of evolution from before dawn to after sunset are discussed, identifying the main physical mechanisms at play. The morning land heating warms the land and the air over it until an air temperature gradient is created and a marine flow accelerates inland, dragged by turbulence in the low layers. The upper part of the inland current and the layers just above are dominated by compensatory motions, which oppose the corresponding pressure gradient at these levels. These mechanisms last while the SB is active, with significant effects from the local topography, and they decrease in intensity as sunset approaches. This relatively simple case has been used to check the goodness of two analytical models of the SB that perform relatively well because they use turbulence as a surrogate for the missing advection terms in the layers above 200 m. These models are formulated here in a more consistent manner in the turbulence parameterization than were the original propositions.

Near‐surface wind over the Adriatic region are examined under present‐day and future climate conditions for two greenhouse gas scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) with an ensemble of high‐resolution (0.11°) CORDEX simulations. The influence of particular combinations of regional climate models (RCMs) and global climate models (GCMs) and emission scenarios on the future changes in the near‐surface wind field has been explored in more detail. Starting with the seasonal climate change signal in large‐scale flow over the entire CORDEX domain, we focus to regional daily wind fields over the Adriatic domain and subdaily features of well‐known regional winds (Bora and Sirocco winds). The analysis reveals the strong sensitivity of the climate change signal in the simulated wind flow to (i) the choice of the GCM that provides the boundary conditions and (ii) the analyzed locations across the Adriatic region. The results of the 21^st century projections indicate that the changes in synoptic activity have an impact on the wind field at the (sub) daily time scale. We found a reduction in the number of Bora events and increase in the number of Sirocco events in northern Adriatic during the winter season, with an increase in pressure in the middle of the 21^st century. Overall, the mean wind speed during Bora and Sirocco events is reduced, except for Bora in northern Adriatic. For the summer season, we found a large increase in the number of thermally induced flows, which is probably caused by the weakening of the Azores High.

Since changes in temperature and precipitation have different effects on (a) all developmental stages of grapevines in most of the wine regions worldwide (i.e., on their phenological characteristics) and (b) different varieties, a comprehensive database of bioclimatic indices has been calculated and analysed for Croatian wine producing regions. The database consists of the average growing season temperature, growing degree‐days, Huglin index, dryness index and cool night index that are based on all available meteorological measurements as well as the outputs of regional climate models (RCMs) from the EURO‐CORDEX database. The horizontal grid spacing of 0.11° from the RCM ensembles enabled a fine‐scale determination of bioclimatic indices for the present and future climate in Croatia. In addition, statistical analyses (standard statistical parameters and Bayesian method) were carried out to examine trends in sugar content, total acidity and date of harvest. Calculations were performed for the present and future climate on the basis of data from seven selected vineyards/wineries and four varieties (‘Graševina’, ‘Plavac mali’, ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Merlot’). The results show whether the part of Croatia that is suitable for grape cultivation in the present climate will continue to be favourable in the future within the Mediterranean area. In general, projections suggest further warming and drying of the climate in Croatia and an earlier harvest, with some variations among varieties that show latitude dependence. Projections for the future climate also suggest that the existing viticultural zoning will be much less adequate for the Croatian territory because it reduces the economically sustainable production of wine in certain areas.