What is Tramontana wind?
The tramontane [tʁa. mɔ̃. tan] in France is a strong, dry cold wind from the north (on the Mediterranean) or from the northwest (in lower Languedoc, Roussillon, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands). The word moved from Latin into French with the meanings “North Star” and also “the guide”.
What are the 4 wind directions?
In the beginning, there are just four main wind directions: north, south, east, and west. Most often, on compass, to shorten the place, they are designated by the letters: N, S, E, and W. North and south are the Earth’s north and south poles, respectively.
How do you calculate wind direction?
Wind direction is measured by a vane consisting of a thin horizontal arm carrying a vertical flat plate at one end with its edge to the wind and at the other end a balance weight which also serves as a pointer. The arm is carried on a vertical spindle mounted on bearings which allow it to turn freely in the wind.
What causes the Mistral wind?
It is caused by a thermal depression over the interior of Provence (The Var and Alpes de Haute-Provence), created when the land is overheated. This creates a flow of air from the north toward the east of Provence. This wind is frequently cancelled out close to the coast by the breezes from the sea.
What is the nature of Mistral wind?
Mistral, Italian maestrale, cold and dry strong wind in southern France that blows down from the north along the lower Rhône River valley toward the Mediterranean Sea.
Where does the Tramontane wind come from in Italy?
It is very prevalent on the west coast of Italy and Northern Corsica. It is caused by a weather system from the west following a depression on the Mediterranean. It is strongest before sunrise, when it can reach speeds of 70 km/h (45 mph). It is a fresh wind of the fine weather mistral type.
What are the symbols for wind speed and visibility?
The wind speed is plotted as feathers and half-feathers representing 10 and 5 knots, on the shaft on the wind direction arrow. See the following table. The visibility plotted in fractions of a mile. For values above 10 miles, the values are omitted from the map.
Where does the name Tramontana come from in Spanish?
In Spain the wind is called the tramuntana [tɾəmunˈtanə] or [tɾamunˈtana] in Catalan and tramontana [tɾamonˈtana] in Spanish, Galician and Basque. The wind also lends its name to the Serra de Tramuntana in Majorca.
How is the direction of the wind indicated?
The wind direction is indicated by the long shaft. The shaft will point to the direction FROM which the wind is blowing. The direction is based upon a 36-point compass.