AN AIRCRAFT STUDY OF MESOSCALE SURFACE WIND PATTERNS AND ASSOCIATED METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS OVER CAPE ST FRANCIS, SOUTH-AFRICA

Aircraft surveys have been conducted to assess the mesoscale pattern o f wind and weather over Cape Saint Francis, South Africa, on the south ern tip of the African continent. Ten surveys were flown at a level of 100 m above ground during November 199 1, and wind velocity, turbulen ce, and temperature were monitored. Results were stratified into compo sites according to the mean direction and speed of the wind. Under the prevailing westerly wind, three areas of high speed were found that m ay constitute optimal sites for wind energy turbines. These areas of h igh velocities lie along the tops of low rolling hills in the vicinity of the Krom River at Cape Saint Francis. The usefulness of aircraft s urveys in developing an understanding of the mesoscale pattern of wind s and associated meteorological fields is emphasized.