WIND ROSE

BRIEF HISTORY OF

WIND ROSE
 Are predecessors of
the compass
rose (found on maps),
as there was no
differentiation
between a cardinal
direction and the
wind which blew
from such a
direction.
DEFINITION OF

WIND ROSE IS:

 A circular display of how wind speed and direction are
distributed at a given location for a certain time period.
 A graphic tool used by meteorologists to give a succinct view
of how wind speed and direction are typically distributed at a
particular location.
 An illustrative way of presenting the wind velocity data.
 Give a short and snappy view of how wind speed and
direction are typically distributed.
 Wind rose diagrams help you visualize wind patterns at a site.
HOW TO USE
A WIND ROSE
AND ITS PARTS
HEADER:
A summary of average
wind direction, average
wind speed, and peak
gust is given on the right
as well.
SPOKE:
The length of each
"spoke" tells the
frequency of wind
coming from a particular
direction.

- IN THIS CASE 72% OF THE GIVEN

TIME (25 HRS), WINDS BLEW FROM
THE W.  24% OF THAT TIME, WINDS
BLEW FROM THE WSW.
WIND
SPEED FREQUENCY:
Wind speeds are
indicated by color.  If a
"spoke" is mostly one
color, then winds blew
mostly at the wind speed
denoted by that color.

- 56% OF THE TIME, WINDS BLEW

FROM THE W AT 5-15 MPH.
- 16% OF THE TIME, THE WIND BLEW
FROM W AT 15-25 MPH.
The circle in the center
indicates calm
winds. Winds were calm
0% of the time.
WIND ROSE
SPEED DISTRIBUTION
AND
WIND ROSE
FREQUENCY
DISTRIBUTION
WIND ROSE
(SPEED
DISTRIBUTION)

This chart shows

the frequency and
speed of wind
blowing from each
direction.
WIND ROSE
(FREQUENCY
DISTRIBUTION)
The radial scale
represents wind speed
rather than percent of
time. Also, the
colored segments of
each spoke represent
hours rather than wind
speed.