Tipusszél

Tipusszél is a Hungarian meteorological classification system used to describe prevailing wind characteristics over a given region. The term is a combination of the Hungarian words *típus*, meaning “type”, and *szél*, meaning “wind”. The system was developed in the mid‑twentieth century to provide a simple, standardized method for communicating wind regimes to agriculture, aviation, and environmental management sectors in Hungary and neighbouring Central European countries.

The core of the Tipusszél system divides wind types into six primary categories based on the dominant prevailing wind direction, frequency, and seasonal variability. These categories are north‑east, north‑west, south‑east, south‑west, south, and mixed. Each category is further subdivided into sub‑groups that capture minor variations in wind speed and gustiness. For example, the north‑east type is subdivided into NE‑low, NE‑medium, and NE‑high, reflecting increasing wind speed regimes.

To determine the appropriate tipusszél classification for a locale, meteorologists analyze long‑term wind‑direction data collected from weather stations. The Dominant Wind Direction index, defined as the direction that accounts for over 30 % of the total wind observations during a calendar year, is the primary criterion. Regional climate studies have shown that tipusszél patterns correlate strongly with local topography, proximity to large water bodies, and prevailing large‑scale atmospheric circulation.

Tipusszél is widely used in Hungarian agricultural planning to advise farmers on crop selection, irrigation requirements, and pest control strategies, as many of these activities are sensitive to wind patterns. In aviation, the classification assists in runway orientation planning and risk assessment for wind shear. Environmental agencies adopt tipusszél to model pollutant dispersion and to manage wind‑energy installations, ensuring that turbine placements match the prevailing wind regime for optimal performance.

The system is periodically updated to reflect shifts in climate patterns and to incorporate new data from automated weather stations. Although primarily employed within Hungary, tipusszél has been cited in Central European research papers and integrated into regional meteorological models, demonstrating its influence beyond national borders.