Aviation Meteorology: Wind Rose Analysis

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, concepts, and visual diagrams related to Wind Rose analysis and runway orientation in aviation meteorology.

Wind Rose

A radial diagram that displays the frequency distribution of wind directions and wind speeds at a specific location over a designated period.

Functions of a Wind Rose

The main applications of a wind rose in aviation, which include identifying dominant wind directions, determining runway orientation, and analyzing flight safety.

Radial Lines

Lines in a wind rose diagram that represent wind directions along cardinal and intercardinal points.

Concentric Circles

Circles in a wind rose diagram that represent the duration or percentage frequency of wind occurrences.

Runway Alignment Requirement

The standard requirement that a runway should be aligned parallel to the dominant wind direction for approximately $\ge 95\%$ of wind occurrences to facilitate safe takeoffs and landings.

Crosswind

Wind blowing sideways relative to the runway centerline that creates a lateral force on an aircraft during landing or takeoff.

Maximum Crosswind Limit for Small Aircraft

The threshold above which crosswinds become hazardous, generally established as $\le 20\,\text{knots}$ for small aircraft.

Runway Numbering System

The method of assigning runway designators based on their magnetic compass heading rounded to the nearest $10^\circ$ and dropping the last digit (e.g., heading $220^\circ$ is numbered as Runway 22).

Reciprocal Runway Designation

The number assigned to the opposite direction of a runway strip, which differs from the opposite end heading by exactly $180^\circ$ (e.g., Runway 09 and Runway 27).

Crab Angle

The angle at which an aircraft points into a crosswind relative to its flight path to maintain alignment along the runway centerline.

Benefits of Wind Rose Analysis

The core operational advantages of utilizing wind rose data, including statistical accuracy, crosswind risk minimization, and improved airport operational efficiency.