A Basic Wind Speed Map for Oman

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop the first basic wind speed map for Oman. Hourly mean wind speed records from 40 metrological stations were used in the calculation. The period of continuous records ranged from 4–37 years. The maximum monthly hourly mean and the maxima annual hourly mean wind speed data were analysed using the Gumbel and Gringorten methods. Both methods gave close results in determining basic wind speeds, with the Gumbel method giving slightly higher values. Due to a lack of long-term records in some regions of Oman, basic wind speeds were extrapolated for some stations with only short-term records, which were defined as those with only 4– 8 years of continuous records; in these cases, monthly maxima were used to predict the long-term basic wind speeds. Accordingly, a basic wind speed map was developed for a 50-year return period. This map was based on basic wind speeds calculated from actual annual maxima records of 29 stations with at least 9 continuous years of records as well as predicted annual maxima wind speeds for 11 short-term record stations. The basic wind speed values ranged from 16 meters/second (m/s) to 31 m/s. The basic wind speed map developed in this research is recommended for use as a guide for structural design in Oman.