Wind

WIND

Wind analysis is an important source of information for placement of elements in a park. Wind provides cooling during warm summer days and brutal chills in the winter which can determine the orientation of a shade structure or shelter. Future energy sources can also be a factor in analyzing predominant wind direction in correlation with open access to free-flowing breeze.

The wind data shown for Vilas Park is information monitored by the NRCS100 at the Dane County Regional Airport. The prominent wind for the summer, June through August, is from direct south. Open air shelters can benefit from this southerly breeze in warm months. In the fall, September through November, the winds shift from mainly the south to northwest as well. During the winter, December through February, the winds maintain a prominence from the northwest and south. In the colder months, solid or enclosed walls of a shelter, such as restroom and concession, may best serve users with an orientation on the north side of the building. In the spring, March through May, the winds are predominantly from the south.

The diagrams show an average for each season’s winds. The wind speeds are depicted with colors intensity reflecting speeds and their direction. The wind speed averages are in meters per second and are approximately 4.11 m/sec (9.19 mph) in summer, 4.60 m/sec (10.29 mph) in fall, 4.89 m/sec (10.94 mph) in winter and 5.06 m/sec (11.32 mph) in spring. The rings on the diagram represent frequency of winds. The inner ring starts at 3 percent of the time followed by 6 percent, 9 percent, 12 percent and the outer ring 15 percent of time.

Legend

> 25.73 mph 19.00 to 24.72 mph 12.08 to 19.00 mph 7.47 to 12.08 mph 4.02 to 7.47 mph 0 to 4.02 mph

Summer Winds Fall Winds

Winter Winds Figure 5.154. Wind Rose at Dane County Regional Airport from NRCS Spring Winds

100 Natural Resources Conservation Service, www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/climate/windrose.html, February 2010