# How to read a Wind Rose

The [wind rose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_rose) is used to provide a synthetic overview of [wind speed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_speed) and [wind direction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_direction) frequency distribution at a given location.

Wind speed can be estimated with several scales. One of the first was created by Britain's Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1805). The [Beaufort scale](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale) is an empirical scale that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. The original scale goes from 0 to 12, but the **Clima Tool** will show the results from 1 to 9 since it is not common to construct buildings in places with recurrent winds over 100 km/h.

<figure><img src="https://491114279-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhupA7DXRC4lRDTpJQJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-147da2741a4526c2e12cdaaaba85be36b1be8b0c%2FBeufortScale.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Graphical illustration of the Beaufort scale. The colors shown for each scale value are those used in the tool's charts. Source: <a href="https://howtoons.com/The-Beaufort-Scale">howtoons</a></p></figcaption></figure>

Each circle segment shows the winds according to the cardinal direction along which they blow from.

<figure><img src="https://491114279-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhupA7DXRC4lRDTpJQJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c474bcc9ba2dd5f19b175e6e0c07233f8c566f5e%2FCardinal%20direction.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system">Geographical coordinates</a> in the wind rose</p></figcaption></figure>

The length of each radius around the circle shows how often the wind blew from that direction. A click of the mouse over each slice of the rose shows therefore the recurrence frequency in which the wind of such intensity is repeated over the analyzed period.

<figure><img src="https://491114279-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhupA7DXRC4lRDTpJQJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-43f34b1705d62de9c26d062681db9dd560223699%2FFrequency.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Frequency of wind intensity recurrence in the wind rose</p></figcaption></figure>

As most graphs in **Clima Tool**, the wind rose is strongly interactive. Clicking on the legend will hide or highlight the selected category. As such, it is easy to go from a wind rose showing all the wind directions and frequency to one that highlights only the selected speed range. This can be particularly useful to identify low-frequency, high-speed wind patterns.

<figure><img src="https://491114279-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MhupA7DXRC4lRDTpJQJ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-cf7c366de96e40ead0d833839e9f69f2c6acfa8a%2Fimage.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Left: wind rose showing all velocity ranges<br>Right: the same data can be easily filtered (by clicking on the legend) to show only direction and frequency of wind speeds above 10.7m/s</p></figcaption></figure>

In the seasonal graphs section, **Clima** shows 4 wind roses for the periods of:

* December - February;
* March - May;
* June - August;
* September - December.

Personal viewing periods are available using the last portion of the Wind section, where a wind rose of the desired interval can be generated.

In building design, the wind is addressed in several forms:

* assessing pedestrian and outdoor comfort;
* design for wind-driven natural ventilation;
* understanding pollution dispersal and outdoor air quality;
* in warm climates, thoughtful design of indoor patios or wind towers can provide naturally mitigated environments;
* in renewable energy, wind data are used to design wind turbines;
* in structural analysis, wind load considerably influences the design of roofs, sheds, or overhanging elements.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://cbe-berkeley.gitbook.io/clima/documentation/tabs-explained/wind/how-to-read-a-wind-rose.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.