Climatological and dynamical aspects of the wind regiome in the Strait of messina

Summary The anemometric measurements recorded for more than one year on two 232 m high towers supporting the power lines crossing the Strait of Messina are analysed. The results indicate several meteo-climatic characteristics of considerable interest to the construction of the bridge over the Strait. It is apparent that: 1) the surrounding orography, although several km from the points of measurement, located on the north side of the Strait, plays the main role in determining wind distribution, from ground level up to a height of several hundred metres. In practice the wind blows from four directions 30 degrees each. 2) Two of these (210 and 330 degrees) display velocity distributions of specific interest for the construction of the bridge. 3) The wind blowing up the Strait (210 degrees) is the strongest in all seasons; it has a logarithmic vertical profile, low turbulence and for the same altitude maintains a constant ratio between vertical velocity (always ascending) and horizontal velocity. 4) The NW wind is more turbulent, has a nonlogarithmic profile and also has a constant ratio between horizontal and vertical velocity.