Storminess variation at Skagen, northern Denmark since AD 1860: Relations to climate change and implications for coastal dunes

•We examine changes in wind climate at Skagen, northern Denmark since AD 1860.•Between 1860 and 1875 storminess is extremely high, but since then it decreases.•Resultant sand drift is towards east until 1960 when it becomes northerly.•The change in wind climate contributes to dune stabilization.

Systematic observations of wind speed and direction have been collected at Skagen Fyr (Skagen Lighthouse), northern Denmark from December 1860 to August 2012. Wind speed and wind direction are analyzed based on two data sets given in Beaufort and m/s respectively and based on these data storminess variation is analyzed. Changes in wind climate during this time interval cover the final phase of the relatively cold Little Ice Age and the following warming since the late 19th century. Since the end of the Little Ice Age the wind pattern has clearly changed in terms of both strength and direction. Between 1860 and 1875 storminess (wind events exceeding Beaufort 8) is extremely high, but since then storminess decreases. Around 1870 the annual drift potential (DP) is also extremely high and reaches up to 9600 vector units (VU); since 1980 DP levels are below 3000 VU and decreasing. Resultant drift direction (RDD) is towards the east or east-north-east until about 1960 when it steadily becomes more and more northerly. Most storms occur during autumn and early winter. Summers are less stormy but characterized by unidirectional winds. Since the end of the Little Ice Age most inland parabolic dunes on Skagen Odde have undergone a general stabilization. This shift in dune dynamics is primarily related to continued dune management, but the change in wind climate including an overall decrease in storminess (including a marked decrease in summer storminess) and an increase in southerly and south-westerly winds probably contribute to dune stabilization.