We measure wind direction with a wind vane (see diagram).
Wind direction is the compass point from which the wind is coming
eg south, south west, west etc.
The unit of measurement for wind direction is therefore compass
direction.
We plot the wind direction for each day of the month on a special graph called a wind rose i.e.
The number in the centre of the wind rose tells us how many days in the month were calm.
Wind Rose Graph Worksheet
The wind directions in the table below have been plotted on this wind rose graph.
day .....wind direction
1. ..............W.
2. ................S.
3. .............S.W.
4. .............S.W.
5. ...............W.
6. .............S.W.
7. ...............W.
8. ...............W.
9. .............N.W.
10. ............N.W.
11. .............S.E.
12. ...............S.
13. .............S.W.
14. ...............E.
15. ...............N.
16. ...............N.
17. ............calm
18. ............calm
19. .............S.E.
20. ..............S.
21. ............S.W.
22. ............S.W.
23 ...............W.
24. ............N.W.
25. ...............S.
26. .............S.W.
27. .............N.W.
28................W.
The direction from which the wind blows most frequently is called the prevailing wind.
1. Plot the wind directions given in the table below onto Graph 3 on your worksheet.
day .....wind direction
1. ..............S.E.
2. ................S.
3. .............S.W.
4. .............S.W.
5. ...............W.
6. .............S.W.
7. .............S.W.
8. ...............W.
9. ...............W.
10. ............N.W.
11. .............S.E.
12. ...............S.
13. .............S.W.
14. .............S.W.
15. ...............W.
16. ...............W.
17. .............N.W.
18. ............calm
19. ............calm
20. .............S.E.
21. ..............S.
22. ............S.W.
23 .............S.W.
24. .............W.
25. ............N.W.
26. ............calm
27. ...............N.
28.................N.
29................S.E.
30...............S.W.
31................W.
2. What was the direction of the prevailing wind ?
3. From what directions did the wind not blow ?
4. What wind direction do you think would bring :-
a. warm air ? (choose from :- north or south)
b. wet air ? (choose from :- east or west)
c. cold air ? (choose from :- north, south, east or west)
5. Use your answer in question 4 to help you answer this question
:-
Do you think that the month you have plotted on the wind rose
in question 1 was :-
a. cold and dry ?
b. cold and wet ? or
c. warm and dry ?
W.D. 1. Fill in your weather Summary Sheet for wind direction.
W.D. 2. What do we call a graph which shows wind direction ?
W.D. 3. What does the number in the middle of this graph tell us ?
W.D. 4. What name do we give to the direction from which the wind blows most frequently ?
W.D. 5. Do question 1 on this sheet on graph 3 in your worksheet.
W.D. 6 Answer questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 on this sheet in your
jotter.
