Vertical profiles of wind speed over a mountain ridge

Measurements of vertical profiles of wind speed on the ridge of the Erz Mountains (Erzgebirge) were performed during the year 2000 with a Doppler sodar located near the village Dlouha Louka. The ridge is highly asymmetrical looking as a large escarpment. The vertical profile was studied for two classes of wind direction: airflow coming from the nearly flat top of the mountain ridge and airflow arising along the steep slope. The shape of the vertical profiles was analysed by statistical methods due to its great variability. Two typical vertical profiles were alternating in time: with and without a local wind speed maximum. The local wind maximum occurred most frequently at a height of 100-200 m above terrain ground and was observed more intensively during the down-slope flow over the edge of the mountain ridge.