Windlage
Windlage refers to the wind field affecting a location, object, or structure. The term, derived from German for wind and position, is used in wind engineering and meteorology to describe the combination of wind direction, speed, vertical profile, and turbulence as modified by terrain, buildings, and other obstacles. Understanding windlage is essential for evaluating wind loads, designing safe structures, and optimizing the placement of wind-energy devices.
Windlage is characterized by several components: the prevailing wind direction, the mean and gust speeds, and
Data for assessing windlage come from weather stations, tall measurement towers, lidar or sodar instruments, and
See also: wind field, wind loading, boundary layer meteorology, wind energy, urban climatology.