Etesians are north to south direction winds in the lower atmosphere, blowing over the Aegean basin from early summer to early autumn. They are an important circulation component for the East Mediterranean (EMED) area, linked to the subsidence and ascent circulation over EMED and the extended Indian monsoon region, respectively. In this study we investigate the evolution of Etesian days and the associated wind speed (10 m) over the recent past (1979–2005) in simulations from Earth System Models (ESMs) available from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5. Results from this analysis are compared to the ERA‐Interim reanalysis. Moreover, we study the connection of the Etesians to the atmospheric circulation over EMED and the wider Indian monsoon area, in particular over the west Indian summer monsoon (wISM) and the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Our findings suggest that while the ESMs underestimate the wind speed of the Etesians, their frequency and summer cycle are in good agreement to reanalysis. ESMs can accurately represent the summer atmospheric circulation and depict the connection between EMED and Indian summer monsoon (ISM), capturing the link between them. Finally, we highlight here the capability and efficiency of ESMs in representing the climatology of Etesians and related atmospheric circulation.

Emissions from port operation and shipping have a significant impact on climate risk, affecting the environment and human health in coastal regions (UNEP). The port of Heraklion, located on the island of Crete over the eastern Mediterranean, plays a key role in the sustainability of Southeast Europe. The impact on its operation affects the socio-economic life and development of the region because Heraklion is not just a tourist destination but also a significant trade and transportation center for the eastern Mediterranean. This study investigates the impact of port operation on the air quality of Heraklion between two representative periods. The first, which is considered as the high port activity season, was from 02 August 2018 to 08 August 2018, while the second period was between 11 May 2018 and 16 May 2018. For the air quality measurements, a low-cost sensor was used, while the recordings were initially compared and finally evaluated based on the available data of the monitoring station of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. To investigate the air quality differences between the two studied periods, the correlation analysis, the hourly evolution of pollutants, and the mean differences between high and low periods for gaseous pollutants and particulate matter are studied. Moreover, the effect of meteorology on air quality is investigated. The results indicate that the high season is characterized by significantly higher concentrations of pollutants compared to the other period. In both seasons studied, the air pollution level increases during hours of high port-activity, indicating the impact of port activity on air quality in Heraklion. The analysis shows that meteorology affects the air quality. In particular, strong wind speeds are associated with lower concentrations of gaseous pollutants other than ozone, which is affected by atmospheric circulation. Finally, the analysis emphasizes the importance of further investigation of the impact of port operations on coastal air quality in the context of sustainable development.

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El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) are the dominant modes of climate variability affecting the tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we investigate the impact of ENSO episodes, through the modulation of the ISM configuration, on the Eastern Mediterranean (EMed) summer atmospheric circulation over the whole 20th century using state of the art model simulations from the 5th phase of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Results are validated against the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis, ERA-