Skip to main content
Log in

In search of a gust definition

  • Published:
Boundary-Layer Meteorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We propose a simple gust definition based on the theory of excursions by Rice (1944 and 1945). We discuss the relation to the distribution of extreme events and demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the most probable extreme event is very close to being identical to the gust according to our definition. We demonstrate how it is possible to predict the gust on the basis of the measured mean wind and variance rather than rely on actually measured extreme excursions. Our gust definition also allows us to predict the average duration of a gust.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Busch, N. E., Christensen, O., Kristensen, L., Lading, L., and Larsen, S. E.: 1980, ‘Cups, Vanes, Propellers and Laser Anemometers’, in F. Dobson, L. Hasse and R. Davis (eds.), Air-Sea Interaction, Instruments and Methods, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 11–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beljaars, A. C. M.: 1987, ‘The Influence of Sampling and Filtering on Measured Wind Gusts’, J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol. 4, 613–626.

    Google Scholar 

  • Courtney, M. S.: 1987, ‘The Lammefjord Experiment’, Proceedings of the American Wind Energy Association Annual Conference, October, San Francisco. CA, pp. 124–129.

  • Courtney, M. S.: 1988, ‘An Atmospheric Turbulence Data Set for Wind Turbine Reseearch’, Proceedings of the 1988 British Wind Energy Association Conference, London, England, pp. 89–94.

  • Davenport, A. G.: 1964, ‘Note on the Distribution of the Largest Value of a Random Function with Application to Gust Loading’, Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. (London) 28, 187–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenzen, P. and Hart, L. H.: 1983, ‘A Further Note on the Kolmogorov-von Kármán Product and the Values of the Constants’, Proc. Sixth Symp. on Turbulence and Diffusion, March 22–25, Boston, MA, pp. 24–27.

  • Gradshteyn, I. S. and Ryzhik, I. M.: 1965, Table of Integrals, Series, and Products. Fourth Edition. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gumbel, E. J.: 1958, Statistics of Extremes, Columbia University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaimal, J. C., Wyngaard, J. C., Izumi, Y. and Coté, O. R.: 1972, ‘Spectral Characteristics of Surface Layer Turbulence’, Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 98, 563–589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen, L., Lenschow, D. H., Kirkegaard, P. and Courtney, M.: 1989, ‘The Spectral Velocity Tensor for Homogeneous Boundary-Layer Turbulence’, Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 47, 149–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panofsky, H. A. and Dutton, J. A.: 1984, Atmospheric Turbulence, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice, S. O.: 1944, 1945, ‘Mathematical Analysis of Random Noise’, Bell Syst. Tech. J. 23, 282–332, 24, 46–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S. F., Oncley, P. O. and Businger, J. A.: 1988, ‘A Critical Evaluation of the von Kármán Constant from a New Atmospheric Surface Layer Experiment’, Proc. Eighth Symp. on Turbulence and Diffusion, April 25–29, San Diego, CA 148–150.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by the Catalonian Research Council (CIRIT), Spain.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kristensen, L., Casanova, M., Courtney, M.S. et al. In search of a gust definition. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 55, 91–107 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00119328

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00119328

Keywords

Navigation