Windrose Tools

When using the Windrose Plot or the Windrose Table tools, the number of wind direction sectors and wind speed distribution categories can be changed in the Control Options. The colors of the windrose can also be customized here. The tools will only change the way the data is displayed. Changing windrose options using these tools does not modify the data in any way.

Custom options available in the Control Options when using the Windrose Plot or Windrose Table tools. The default options are shown.

Sectors

The number of wind direction sectors, or petals, are defined with this function. The number can range from a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 36 using multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36). Also, with this function, the user can specify whether the wind direction is where the wind is blowing from or where it is blowing to. This can depend on what type of dispersion modeling analysis the data will be used for: AERMOD-ready meteorological data uses the BlowingFrom wind direction while ISC-ready meteorological data uses the BlowingTo option.

A windrose with 8 wind direction sectors

The same windrose with 36 wind direction sectors

Speed Distribution

The user can select from three different classes on wind speed distribution classes:

•	Automatic - Uses even intervals of wind speed based on the maximum recorded wind speed. Selecting this option allows the user to change the number of categories from 1 to 10.

•	UserDefined - Makes the Speeds function unhidden and allows the user to specify anywhere from 1-10 custom wind speed distribution levels.

•	ISC - Uses five wind speed categories of 1.54, 3.09, 5.14, 8.23, and 10.80 meters per second.

Drop-down list of available wind speed classes

Colors

The Colors drop-drop down menu allows the user to select their own colors for the windrose plot. Each of the three available palette gives the user many different options to customize the windrose in any way they choose.

Default Color Scheme

To change the color of a sector, simply select the color in the Colors drop-down menu. The palettes are divided into three tabs:

Custom Color Palette

Web Color Palette

System Color Palette

Subsequent files that are opened will keep the user defined color scheme until the program is closed. AERMOD GIS Pro will revert to the default color scheme the next time it is opened.

Windrose Plot Custom Tools

The Windrose Plot tab consists on two unique custom tools: Circle Grid and Plot Appearance. Both tools can be used to modify the appearance of the windrose.

Circle Grid

Circle Grid menu

The circle grid menu changes the polar grid that the windrose is plotted on.

•	Size Method - The user can use the size method tool to make the windrose appear larger or smaller. "Automatic" sizes the polar grid so that the windrose takes up the maximum amount of space. "RadiusMax" allows the user to specify a specific radius for the percentage rings.

•	Radius Max - Only available when the RadiusMax Size Method is selected. Must be between 1 and 100.

•	Increment - Number of percentage rings displayed on the polar grid. Must be between 1 and 25.

•	Sectors - The number of wind direction sectors displayed on the polar grid. Must be a multiple of 4 ranging from 4 to 36.

•	Label Angle - Allows the user to move the labels of the percentages on the grid so that they can be read more easily.

For the Increment, Sectors, and Label Angle tools, each one can be changed by either highlighting and typing in a number or by moving the slider to the left or right.

Plot Appearance

Plot Appearance menu

The Plot Appearance tool modifies the physical appearance of the windrose plot in the viewing window.

•	Legend Scale - Makes the legend, which displays wind speed sectors, either larger or smaller. Can be modified by either typing in a new number or moving the slider left or right.

•	Plot Scale - Changes the size of the windrose plot with respect to the legend scale. Modified in the same way as the Legend Scale.

•	Petal Width - Changes the size of each petal of the windrose. Must be between 5 and 100.

•	Petal Line - Allows the user to change the outline of the petals.

•	Calm Color - Changes the color of the calm sector circle in the center of the windrose plot.

•	Calm Scale - Makes the calm sector circle larger or smaller with respect to the windrose petals.

•	BackColor - Changes the background color of the plot.

•	ForeColor - Changes the color of the polar grid and all text within the plot.

Windrose Table Custom Tools

Selecting the Windrose Table tab will open one unique custom tool menu - the Windrose Table menu.

Custom windrose table menu

The BackColor, ForeColor, and Font options will change the physical display of the Windrose Table. The Format option allows the user to select either Fractional, Percent, or Count display.

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