Wind Awareness

• Forecast conditions including synoptic
• ‘Fluid’ flow concept of air between, over and around terrain
• Significance of wind direction relative to terrain
• Wind patterns less than 15kts
• Wind patterns greater than 15kts
• Local patterns and effects
• Upper winds compared to lower winds i.e. comparison of wind in a valley with wind at altitude
• Indicators of wind velocity at altitude, for example
  • snow
  • drift
  • lift/sink patterns
  • VSI indications
  • wave
  • cloud movement
• Indicators of lower level wind velocity, for example
  • tussocks
  • water ripples/lanes on stationary water and wind shadow on water
  • poplars
  • willows
  • crop
  • smoke/dust
  • drift, and drift indicators
  • G/S versus A/S
  • cloud shadows as indicator of upper wind and its influence on lower level wind
• Lift, sink, rotor, wave and turbulence
• Cloud types as indicators of potential flying conditions
• Applicability of Va and Vno
• Katabatic/anabatic winds in a valley
• Choice of flying low versus flying high