Wind Results 



Wind measurements axe of interest at coastal inlets because the winds can force 

 longshore and cross-shore currents, storm surge, local wave generation, and wind-blown 

 sand transport. Plots of the measured wind speed at the Battelle gauge (Site H in 

 Figure 3) for the months of February/March 1996, July 1996, August 1996, August 1997, 

 September 1997, and October 1997 are given in Figures 58-63; and directions for the 

 same months are given in Figures 64-69. In the March 1996 wind speed plot (Figure 58), 

 the most prominent feature is the high winds associated with the storm event that peaks 

 on 1 1 March. The wind speed peaks early on 1 1 March at 16 m/sec and then peaks again 

 22 hr later at 17 m/sec. During the 1 1 March storm, strong winds from the north were 

 sustained over 3 days, which generated 5.4-m waves. In July and August 1996, the 

 maximum wind speeds measured were 8 m/sec (Figures 59 and 60). An event on 1 1 July 

 had winds from the north, and an event on 21 August had east-northeast winds over a 

 5-day period (Figures 65 and 66). 



The wind speed has a strong 24-hr cycle, with the maximum wind speed typically 

 occurring between 1700 and 2100 GMT (1200-1600 Eastern Standard Time (EST), 

 1300-1700 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)) and the minimum wind speed occurring 

 between 0500 and 0900 GMT (0000-0400 EST, 0100-0500 EDT). During this daily 

 cycle, the maximum winds typically blow onshore and the minimum winds blow 

 offshore. This is a typical sea breeze and land breeze cycle caused by the warming of the 

 land during the day and cooling at night. The diurnal shift in direction is shown in the 

 wind direction plots (Figures 64-69). 



Chapter 3 Example Results and Discussion 51 



