Air mass exchange between the athens basin and the messogia plain of Attika, Greece

The present work investigates the interaction between the local and synoptic meteorology and the resultant air mass exchange between two major regions of the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA); the Messogia Plain, a rural area under development and the Athens Basin which combines industrial and human activities. These are separated by the 1000 m-high Hymettos Mountain. Meteorological data from a 4-month experimental campaign are used to (a) identify and classify the principal synoptic types observed, based on past long-term observations, (b) determine the recurrent surface wind flow patterns over the Messogia Plain and the Athens Basin, (c) specify the effect of the local thermal flows on the meteorological coupling of the two areas in relation to the synoptic, background (large-scale) conditions, and (d) analyse the flow over the Hymettos Mountain and through the natural openings which link the two areas geographically.