Definition of Compass Rose

On some maps, on navigation charts or compasses we can see a diagram circular with rhombuses attached to each other. It is the Compass Rose, a symbol internationally recognized in the nautical world. With this representation reference is made to the direction of the winds.

An instrument that for centuries has been of great use to sailors and is still used today

It presents different divisions to show the direction of the wind. The most general includes the four cardinal points: north, south, east and west (each of them allows dividing the horizon into sectors or quadrants of 90 degrees). Between each of them there are four other lateral divisions that are separated by a distance 45 degrees (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest). Among the latter there are eight other collateral courses located at a distance of 22.5 degrees (northeast, south-southwest, west-west ...). With these divisions and subdivisions it is possible to identify a total of 32 courses associated with the wind direction. (for example, in the Mediterranean the northeast direction corresponds to the gregarious wind and the northwest direction corresponds to the mistral).

In this way, the circumference of the horizon and observing the Rose of the winds it is possible to know the direction that the wind takes. At the same time, this diagram makes it possible to identify north as a reference for the rest of the navigation directions.

It also serves to know the velocity of the wind in a certain place, to locate wind turbines or to elaborate wind atlases (in all these cases the Rose of the winds serves as a reference support).

The first references appear in the XlV century

For centuries the navigation techniques were very precarious, since the navigators did not handle navigation charts, they did not have advanced cartographic information and they lacked precise technical instruments to locate themselves at sea.

From the fourteenth century there was a change qualitative due to the use of two advances: the compass and mapping (The compass was invented by the Chinese around the Vl century but reached the West much later).

One of the specific charts was the Portulans, which had a He drew in which the compass rose appeared. It is believed that the creator of this diagram on the direction of the wind was the Mallorcan philosopher and scholar Ramón Llull.

Today this symbol is very present as an ornamental element in port areas. Finally, NATO uses this representation as an anagram.

Fotolia photos: Artowl / Olivier Le Moal