ABSTRACT
This paper focuses on the “state of the art”
research of the Argentinian zonda wind at the beginning of 2015. Zonda (similar
to foehn) is a strong, warm, very dry wind associated with adiabatic
compression upon descending the eastern slopes of the Andes Cordillera in
western central Argentina. Particularly, hourly surface meteorological
information obtained from the Argentine National Weather Service (Servicio
Meteorológico Nacional, SMN) from Mendoza Aero (32?50’S, 68?47’W, 704 m ASL)
and San Juan Aero (31?34’S, 68?25’W, 598 m ASL) airport meteorological stations
was used. The paper contains a history of zonda research mentioning the
principal papers since the 1950s, the characteristics of zonda wind (conceptual
model, a classic event, intensities categories) and examples of non-classical
episodes. Also zonda dynamics, zonda climatology and forecasting problems are
considered. A probabilistic method and the model forecast that are running in
operative way are commented. Also the climate impact, air quality and damages
caused are mentioned. There has been substantial progress in the understanding
of this kind of complex wind during the last years, especially since the last
decade, accelerated using different models. This paper has highlighted some of
these advances by synthesizing some of the major findings. The probabilistic
prediction method developed in the 1980s is still very useful to predict zonda
in the cities of San Juan and Mendoza. This as well as the new available tools,
such as the eta/PRM and GEM models running operatively (continuously) at PRM
(Mendoza Regional Meteorology Program), offered the community the possibility
to generate an Early Warning System to warn the population particularly in its
severe manifestations. The answer to questions regarding time of onset of the
event, place where it will occur first, duration, intensity and offset still
poses a great challenge for researchers and forecasters in the region.