73 posts
Hey
does anybody know anything about wind rebounding of buildings, i live near a town where there are alot of apartments on the seafront and was wondering when the wind blows onshore how much it gets affected by the buildings???
NSW
4382 posts
You don't weant to get a kite anywhere near the upwind side of large buildings. The wind will be forced upwards by the building, and the taller the building the further this updraft extends in front of the building. The wind will be accellerated too, so there is an even greater chance of being lofted in to the air. There are accidents on record where people have been flung over buildings by this "wind sheer" and have been killed or badly injured.
Its not only building either, large trees do it so do sand dunes, etc.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve McCormack
www.kitepower.com.au
VIC
187 posts
Steve,
Is this the same thing that happens on the side of a hill/mountain? Can this be useful for kiting up a hill (snowboard or atb). I've seen people (on videos) floating down a hill (in the air for ages), are they using this updraft to gradually bring them down to earth?
Looks pretty cool.
James
