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Local effects of wind turbines on near-surface wind speed in a desert steppe wind farm

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Abstract

This research describes and interprets spatial variation in near-surface wind speed around a large scale wind generation operation in a desert steppe environment of Inner Mongolia. Wind speeds were measured at five different heights and distances in front of and behind turbines and compared to that measured simultaneously from reference points immediately outside of the wind farm. The results showed that wind turbines clearly influence the spatial distribution of near-surface wind speed. Relative to reference points, near-surface wind velocity profiles measured at various distances from wind turbines followed a logarithmic distribution. The correlation coefficients for all points were above 0.95 except for a coefficient of 0.8278 corresponding to wind speeds measured 20 m in front of turbines. The wind speed increment rate at 20, 100, and 300 m in front of and behind turbines demonstrated the varying influence of turbines at different points. The area 100 m behind the turbine experienced maximum wind speeds at all height levels observed in the measurement area. The overall wind speed at 300 m distance was relatively low and variation nearest to the turbine was the most complex.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the organizations and scientists, who provided support to the present study. We are also thankful to Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Scientific Research Project (NJZY16044) and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project (2019MS03044).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Geological Science College of Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, 010 022, China

    Dandan Zhou, Chunxing Hai & Yuhai Bao

  2. Environment Engineering Evaluation Center of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, 010 011, China

    Shengrong Hu

  3. Desertification Control College of Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010 019, China

    Xiaohong Dang

  4. Hydraulics Institute of Pasturing Area of the Ministry of Hydraulics, Hohhot, 010 020, China

    Jinrong Li

  5. Zhangjiakou No.4 Middle School, Zhangjiakou, 075 000, China

    Jing Zhu

Authors
  1. Dandan Zhou
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  2. Shengrong Hu
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  3. Xiaohong Dang
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  4. Jinrong Li
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  5. Chunxing Hai
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  6. Yuhai Bao
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  7. Jing Zhu
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Correspondence to Dandan Zhou.

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Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

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Zhou, D., Hu, S., Dang, X. et al. Local effects of wind turbines on near-surface wind speed in a desert steppe wind farm. J Earth Syst Sci 129, 139 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-020-01404-1

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