Wind

The wind is vector weather element, particularly variable in time and space, conditioned by the horizontal pressure contrast created within the general circulation of the atmosphere

The movement of the air streams from o­ne place to another (the wind regime) is prevailingly determined by the development of the various pressure systems- first and foremost by the activity of the main acting centres.

The wind is characterized by two extremely variable elements in time and space: the direction wherefrom the wind blows, determined by considering 16 sectors of the horizon and the speed, representing the distance traveled by the air particles in the time unit expressed as m/s.
Observations o­n the wind direction and spee0d respectively are performed at the standard 10 m height above ground. The wind regime in our country is determined both by the peculiarities of the general atmospheric circulation and by those of the active surface, with a marked role of the orographic barrage of the Carpathians, whose disposition and altitude induce regional and local circulation of the air.

The mean annual wind speeds o­n the Romanian territory exceed 8m/s at altitudes over 2000 m.a.s.l., ranging within 6-8 m/s at over 1700 m.a.s.l. and within 4-6 m/s in the areas 1400-1600 m high. In the depressions from the mountain and hill area, as well as o­n the low altitude summits, the wind speed gradually diminishes, function of the local, aerodynamic sheltering conditions.

In the areas with a slightly fragmented relief, the highest values of the mean wind speed are recorded in the seacoast area, above the waters of the Black Sea. In the maritime Danube Delta, o­n the Black Sea shore, in the high area of the Dobrudja Plateau, of the Central Moldavian Plateau and along the corridors in-between them, the mean annual speeds exceed 4m/s.

Within the borders of the Romanian Plain, the highest values (over 3m/s) are localized in its eastern part and in Oltenia Plain. Similar values are specific to most of the Moldavian Plain and Dobrudja, to the western border of the Western Plain and to southern Banat. Mean annual speeds of 2-3 m/s are recorded in most of the Romanian Plain, the Western Plain and the Subcarpathian hills. In the Transylvanian Plateau, the high part of the Tarnavelor Plateau excepted, the mean annual wind speeds are just 1-2m/s. The smallest wind speeds, under 1m/s, are recorded in the depression areas of the Getic Subcarpathians.

It must be underlined that within each mentioned area the mean annual wind speeds can be higher than those specific to the respective area o­n the concave shapes of the relief, whereas inside the relief’s convex shapes, wind speeds can decrease to less than 1 m/s.

Annual mean wind speed (1961-2000)