Ideal Shade Structure Site Orientation

[Gunny6172]

Hello,
I am inquiring on the ideal site orientation of a monkey hut shade structure for optimal wind shedding and sun exposure. Is there a predominate wind direction on the playa?

[Molotov]

It can vary by location. For example, last year at 3:30 and D the prevailing wind blew in from left to right (facing toward the Man, or in other words blowing from the 4:00 toward 3:00 radials-blowing right down D Street)

That has been my pretty much experience in previous years in a similar location.

YMMV

[Gunny6172]

Consulting last year's map, the wind is generally blowing out of the west (west to east). So, no matter where you are in the city, orientate structure opening to the north. Recommending picking a camp location to ensure north facing is something you desire to view, does that sound right?

[some seeing eye]

Someone, not me, made this drawing.

https://i.imgur.com/Ruqze.png

[some seeing eye]

Someone, not me, made this drawing.

https://i.imgur.com/Ruqze.png

2018 Sun rise and sun set

https://www.nobaketent.com/blog/2018/6/ ... urning-man

If you bring a smart device, there are apps for photographers which will tell you all those angles for a given date and location on earth, or from your phone GPS when you are on the playa.

I would put the ribs, which flex, on the same axis as the prevailing wind so the hut is hit broadside.

[Papa Bear]

Consulting last year's map, the wind is generally blowing out of the west (west to east). So, no matter where you are in the city, orientate structure opening to the north. Recommending picking a camp location to ensure north facing is something you desire to view, does that sound right?

Not quite. Assuming the city orientation remains the same (it has for years, though the center point shifts around some) this is probably the clearest map I've seen explaining it: https://eplaya.burningman.org/download/ ... &mode=view

The prevailing wind comes in from the SSW - if there were a radial avenue at ~5:25, it would blow straight down it. So that's where you'd ideally have your primary windbreak, and that's where the big dust storms will come from as those winds hit gate road. Occasionally it will shift to a crosswind coming from the NE or some other random direction, and of course you can get sudden updrafts and dustdevils at any time.

The 4:30 radial avenue runs North/South, so the sun will be directly overhead and shadows will point straight down it at 1 PM rather than noon (due to daylight savings, of course). If you are looking for maximum shade during the middle of the day, cover the south side. Many people, however, are most concerned about shade in the morning when they are trying to sleep, so prefer shade to the east.

In a monkey hut, I'd probably try to orient close to north/south so that you get shade on both sides, park your car behind it, and put your tent far enough forward in it that the southern sun doesn't hit it. (The caveat there is that while I've built and used monkey huts, I've never done so on playa.)

Don't count on having a view of much of anything unless you are on an elevated platform or out in walk-in camping. Other camps will fill in around you, some of which may have structures anywhere from 10' to 60' tall.

[Gunny6172]

Did you mean to state that the prevailing winds are out of the SSE instead of SSW?

[Gunny6172]

I stand corrected, you are right. Thank you!

[some seeing eye]

Thanks Papa Bear for a better drawing and not double posting by accident.

I believe the founders of the Weather Underground may have been burners, a burner friend knows them. They eventually sold out to IBM.

Last year, the Weather Underground placed a weather station on the playa (through their own PWS backbone?) at the BRC airport, which has little wind shading.

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/ ... -28/weekly

You can play around with the dates, it graphs 10 minute wind direction data and speed from about August 25 and September 5. Wind direction on the WU graph is the from-direction in compass degrees.

[Gunny6172]

Great detailed data from all!
Thank You,
Gunny

[FIGJAM]

Truck facing east on the 5;00 spoke.

[attachment=0]398387684.jpg[/attachment]