Sustained wind speed

n. Average wind speed occurring over a relatively long-lasting period of time.

• Discussion

The time period for averaging instantaneous wind speed to estimate the sustained wind speed varies considerably among authors. Because there is no standard, the time period over which the wind speed is averaged should be clearly stated for each application.

• Units

   

  Preferred units for wind speed are km/hr in technical reports and papers. Fire Management in the United States still uses the English units mi/hr. Engineering and physics applications may use units of m/s or ft/s. See the following wind speed units conversion table for conversion factors.

   

• See Also

  • Instantaneous wind speed

  • Wind speed

   

• Notes

  • Author 

    Joe Scott, Research Forester

    Systems for Environmental Management

     

  • Last update 

    August 2007