ScienceAsia 7 (1981): 154-169 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.1981.07.154

SURFACE WIND DISTRIBUTIONS IN THAILAND

R.H.B. EXELL

ABSTRACT: Published percentage frequencies of surface wind speeds and directions at 45 synoptic weather stations in Thailand for the period 1951-1961 have been used to determine the seasonal characteristics of the wind at height 10 m over the country for use in wind energy studies. Calm conditions occur generally from 10% to 50% of the time. The Weibull distribution shape parameters calculated for the wind speeds in the non-calm periods lie mostly between 1 and 2, while the scale parameters range from 1 m/s to 6 m/s The distrubutions of wind direction are characterized by a mean direction and a parameter indicating constancy of direction. The results show that there is some potential for harnessing the wind in the south, the centre and the north-east of the country.

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Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Received 5 November 1981