Astroclimatology of Paranal

Wind 30m above Ground Level 2000-2016: Annual Statistics Wind 10m above Ground Level 1985-2004: Annual Statistics Histogram (85-99) Windroses ( 1997-1999 1993-1996 1985-1990 )

Wind at 200mB/12km Altitude: Monthly Statistics 1987-1999 Plot

Wind at Paranal: Annual Statistics

Nighttime (0-10hUT) 20mn Wind Velocity Bins at 10m above ground (30m from 1998 onwards)

Year \ wind	% above 15m/s	Average	Maximum	RMS
2004	3	6.1	24.2	3.9
2003	2	5.9	19.7	3.6
2002	4	6.8	21.8	4.0
2001	3	6.5	23.5	3.9
2000	4	6.5	24.3	4.2
1999	5	6.6	22.7	4.1
1998	5	7.4	23.7	4.2
1997	6	7.1	24.6	4.3
1996	5	7.0	26.8	4.3
1995	4	6.7	25.1	4.1
1994	5	6.2	24.4	4.2
1993	7	6.8	22.3	4.4
1992	*	summit	flattened	*
1991	*	29m	removed	*
1990	9	7.9	26.1	4.8
1989	8	7.8	29.8	4.8
1988	9	8.0	26.4	4.9
1987	10	8.0	32.2	5.0
1986	6	7.2	23.3	4.3
1985	5	7.1	24.8	4.2

Monthly averages (ascii file), 1998-2000

Wind at Paranal: Nighttime Velocity Histogram (1985-1999)

wind velocity at 10m above ground (30m from 1998 onwards)

Percentage of the total time (respectively of useful time) when the wind was between 12 and 15m/s (telescope not allowed to point towards North): 6.6% (7.5%) in the period 2000-2002, and 7.8% (8.2%) in the period 1997-1999.

Wind at Paranal: Nighttime Windrose (97-99)

wind direction at 10m above ground
The sectors are in steps of 11.25 degrre, the length of the sector represents the fraction of time when the wind comes from this direction (postcript figure)

Wind at Paranal: Nighttime Windrose (93-96)

wind direction at 10m above ground
The sectors are in steps of 11.25 degrre, the length of the sector represents the fraction of time when the wind comes from this direction (postcript figure)

Wind at Paranal: Nighttime Windrose (85-90)

wind direction at 10m above ground
The sectors are in steps of 11.25 degrre, the length of the sector represents the fraction of time when the wind comes from this direction (postcript figure)

Wind above Paranal: Monthly Statistics of 200mB/12km Velocity (1987-1999)

Antofagasta Daily (12UT) Radiosoundings

Wind above Paranal: 200mB/12km Velocity and Scintillation (1987-1999)

Antofagasta Daily (12UT) Radiosoundings and ESO Scintillometers