Better than a wind rose

We report a form of presentation of wind data which, for many purposes, is superior to the traditional wind rose. A single diagram conveys detailed information on the speed and direction of the major wind systems and allows the diurnal variation to be interpreted in terms of the physical processes which produce the winds. The diagram is easily constructed from the separate hours wind frequency analysis which is available from the Meteorological Office for surface wind observations at many sites in the U.K. Information on the comparable winds aloft can be compiled from the daily rawinsonde data. A brief example is presented.