Abstract
We investigated the representativeness of 10-m wind measurements in a 4 km × 2 km area of modest relief by comparing observations at a central site with those at four satellite sites located in the same area. Using a combination of established and new methods to quantify and visualize representativeness, we found significant differences in wind speed and direction between the four satellite sites and the central site. The representativeness of the central site wind measurements depended strongly on surface wind speed and direction, and atmospheric stability. Through closer inspection of the observations at one of the satellite sites, we concluded that terrain-forced flows combined with thermally driven downslope winds caused large biases in wind direction and speed. We used these biases to generate a basic model, showing that terrain-related differences in wind observations can to a large extent be predicted. Such a model is a cost-effective way to enhance an area’s wind field determination and to improve the outcome of pollutant dispersion and weather forecasting models.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Virginia Uranium Incorporated (VUI) and the University of Virginia (UVa). VUI was not involved in the study design, data analysis or the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors gratefully acknowledge Stewart East and željko Večenaj for their help in setting up and maintaining the measurement towers, Stephanie Phelps for initial explorations of wind representativeness in her MS thesis at UVa, and UVa students for their help with field work.
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van den Bossche, M., De Wekker, S.F.J. Representativeness of wind measurements in moderately complex terrain. Theor Appl Climatol 135, 491–504 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2402-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2402-z