Figure 3. The OpenFoam model output of a) wind speed and b)
pressure, over a windward cliff (“Skomer head”) with SW wind (denoted
with black arrows). In the lower parts of the cliffs, the wind is
blocked, resulting in high pressure regions where flow is decelerated.
Closer to the top (55 - 60 m ASL), the flow is accelerated, generating
areas of low pressure. This generates a wider range of pressures on
windward cliffs, compared to leeward cliffs, where flow separation
occurs, viscous forces take over, and areas of consistently low pressure
are generated that are not associated with high wind speeds.