scholarly journals WRF-Simulated Low-Level Jets over Iowa: Characterization and Sensitivity Studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanie A. Aird ◽  
Rebecca J. Barthelmie ◽  
Tristan J. Shepherd ◽  
Sara C. Pryor
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Stable Stratification ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
The State ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Vertical Resolution ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Sensitivity Studies ◽  
Low Level Jets

Abstract. Output from high resolution simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are analyzed to characterize local low level jets (LLJ) over Iowa. Analyses using a detection algorithm wherein the wind speed above and below the jet maximum must be below 80 % of the jet wind speed within a vertical window of approximately 20 m–530 m a.g.l. indicate the presence of a LLJ in at least one of the 14700 4 km by 4 km grid cells over Iowa on 98 % of nights. Nocturnal LLJ are most frequently associated with stable stratification and low TKE and hence are more frequent during the winter months. The spatiotemporal mean LLJ maximum (jet core) wind speed is 9.55 ms−1 and the mean height is 182 m. Locations of high LLJ frequency and duration across the state are seasonally varying with a mean duration of 3.5 hours. LLJ are most frequent in the topographically complex northwest of the state in winter, and in the flatter northeast of the state in spring. Sensitivity of LLJ characteristics to the: i) LLJ definition and ii) vertical resolution at which the WRF output is sampled are examined. LLJ definitions commonly used in LLJ literature are considered in the first sensitivity analysis. These sensitivity analyses indicate that LLJ characteristics are highly variable with LLJ definition. Further, when the model output is down-sampled to lower vertical resolution, the maximum LLJ wind speed and mean height decrease, but spatial distributions of regions of high frequency and duration are conserved.

scholarly journals WRF-simulated low-level jets over Iowa: characterization and sensitivity studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1015-1030
Author(s):  
Jeanie A. Aird ◽  
Rebecca J. Barthelmie ◽  
Tristan J. Shepherd ◽  
Sara C. Pryor
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Polynomial Interpolation ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Detection Algorithm ◽  
The State ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Vertical Resolution ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. Output from 6 months of high-resolution simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are analyzed to characterize local low-level jets (LLJs) over Iowa for winter and spring in the contemporary climate. Low-level jets affect rotor plane aerodynamic loading, turbine structural loading and turbine performance, and thus accurate characterization and identification are pertinent. Analyses using a detection algorithm wherein the wind speed above and below the jet maximum must be below 80 % of the jet wind speed within a vertical window of approximately 20–530 m a.g.l. (above ground level) indicate the presence of an LLJ in at least one of the 14 700 4 km×4 km grid cells over Iowa on 98 % of nights. Nocturnal LLJs are most frequently associated with stable stratification and low turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and hence are more frequent during the winter months. The spatiotemporal mean LLJ maximum (jet core) wind speed is 9.55 m s−1, and the mean height is 182 m. Locations of high LLJ frequency and duration across the state are seasonally varying, with a mean duration of 3.5 h. The highest frequency occurs in the topographically complex northwest of the state in winter and in the flatter northeast of the state in spring. Sensitivity of LLJ characteristics to the (i) LLJ definition and (ii) vertical resolution at which the WRF output is sampled is examined. LLJ definitions commonly used in the literature are considered in the first sensitivity analysis. These sensitivity analyses indicate that LLJ characteristics are highly variable with definition. Use of different definitions identifies both different frequencies of LLJs and different LLJ events. Further, when the model output is down-sampled to lower vertical resolution, the mean jet core wind speed height decreases, but spatial distributions of regions of high frequency and duration are conserved. Implementation of a polynomial interpolation to extrapolate down-sampled output to full-resolution results in reduced sensitivity of LLJ characteristics to down-sampling.

scholarly journals A Climatology of Nocturnal Low-Level Jets at Cabauw

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1627-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Baas ◽  
F. C. Bosveld ◽  
H. Klein Baltink ◽  
A. A. M. Holtslag
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Geostrophic Wind ◽  
Stable Stratification ◽  
Radiative Cooling ◽  
Inertial Oscillation ◽  
Stable Boundary Layers ◽  
Above Ground Level ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets

Abstract A climatology of nocturnal low-level jets (LLJs) is presented for the topographically flat measurement site at Cabauw, the Netherlands. LLJ characteristics are derived from a 7-yr half-hourly database of wind speed profiles, obtained from the 200-m mast and a wind profiler. Many LLJs at Cabauw originate from an inertial oscillation, which develops after sunset in a layer decoupled from the surface by stable stratification. The data are classified to different types of stable boundary layers by using the geostrophic wind speed and the isothermal net radiative cooling as classification parameters. For each of these classes, LLJ characteristics like frequency of occurrence, height above ground level, and the turning of the wind vector across the boundary layer are determined. It is found that LLJs occur in about 20% of the nights, are typically situated at 140–260 m above ground level, and have a speed of 6–10 m s−1. Development of a substantial LLJ is most likely to occur for moderate geostrophic forcing and a high radiative cooling. A comparison with the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) is added to illustrate how the results can be used to evaluate the performance of atmospheric models.

scholarly journals Assimilation of Satellite-Derived Soil Moisture for Improved Forecasts of the Great Plains Low-Level Jet

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 (11) ◽  
pp. 4607-4627
Author(s):  
Craig R. Ferguson ◽  
Shubhi Agrawal ◽  
Mark C. Beauharnois ◽  
Geng Xia ◽  
D. Alex Burrows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Convective Systems ◽  
South Central ◽  
Mesoscale Convective

AbstractIn the context of forecasting societally impactful Great Plains low-level jets (GPLLJs), the potential added value of satellite soil moisture (SM) data assimilation (DA) is high. GPLLJs are both sensitive to regional soil moisture gradients and frequent drivers of severe weather, including mesoscale convective systems. An untested hypothesis is that SM DA is more effective in forecasts of weakly synoptically forced, or uncoupled GPLLJs, than in forecasts of cyclone-induced coupled GPLLJs. Using the NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (NU-WRF) Model, 75 GPLLJs are simulated at 9-km resolution both with and without NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive SM DA. Differences in modeled SM, surface sensible (SH) and latent heat (LH) fluxes, 2-m temperature (T2), 2-m humidity (Q2), PBL height (PBLH), and 850-hPa wind speed (W850) are quantified for individual jets and jet-type event subsets over the south-central Great Plains, as well as separately for each GPLLJ sector (entrance, core, and exit). At the GPLLJ core, DA-related changes of up to 5.4 kg m−2 in SM can result in T2, Q2, LH, SH, PBLH, and W850 differences of 0.68°C, 0.71 g kg−2, 59.9 W m−2, 52.4 W m−2, 240 m, and 4 m s−1, respectively. W850 differences focus along the jet axis and tend to increase from south to north. Jet-type differences are most evident at the GPLLJ exit where DA increases and decreases W850 in uncoupled and coupled GPLLJs, respectively. Data assimilation marginally reduces negative wind speed bias for all jets, but the correction is greater for uncoupled GPLLJs, as hypothesized.

scholarly journals Influence of the Heights of Low-Level Jets on Power and Aerodynamic Loads of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Rotor

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuyao Zhang ◽  
Congxin Yang ◽  
Shoutu Li
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Horizontal Axis ◽  
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Aerodynamic Loads ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets ◽  
Inflow Conditions ◽  
Swept Area

The influence of the heights of low-level jets (LLJs) on the rotor power and aerodynamic loads of a horizontal axis wind turbine were investigated using the fatigue, aerodynamics, structures, and turbulence code. The LLJ and shear inflow wind fields were generated using an existing wind speed spectral model. We found that the rotor power predicted by the average wind speed of the hub height is higher than the actual power in relatively weak and shallow LLJ inflow conditions, especially when the LLJ height is located inside the rotor-swept area. In terms of aerodynamic loads, when the LLJ height is located inside the rotor-swept area, the root mean square (RMS) rotor thrust coefficient and torque coefficient increase, while the RMS rotor unbalanced aerodynamic load coefficients, including lateral force, longitudinal force, tilt moment, and yaw moment, decreased. This means that the presence of both positive and negative wind shear in the rotor-swept area not only increases the rotor power but also reduces the unbalanced aerodynamic loads, which is beneficial to the operation of wind turbine. Power spectrum analysis shows no obvious difference in the power spectrum characteristics of the rotor torque and thrust in LLJ inflow conditions with different heights.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of nocturnal low-level jets to land-use parameters and meteorological quantities

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 85-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Ziemann ◽  
Manuela Starke ◽  
Tina Leiding
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Geostrophic Wind ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets

Abstract. The increasing hub height of wind turbines aims at optimizing the wind energy yield at one location and offers the possibility to provide new areas for wind power, for example forests. Inhomogeneous environmental conditions of locations for wind turbines as well as the hub heights of more than 100 m cause challenges for flow models and their potential for wind power assessment. This includes special features of the wind field like low-level jets (LLJs), frequently observed local wind maxima in the nocturnal boundary layer. To characterize the dependencies of LLJs, the micro-scale model HIRVAC2D (HIgh Resolution Vegetation Atmosphere Coupler 2D) is applied in the study. The model HIRVAC2D is capable of modelling different vegetation types by explicitly considering the highly resolved structure of varying plant parameters. Beyond that, the model enables the resolution of temporally variable atmospheric circulation patterns during day- and night-time with typical thermal stratifications. In this way, HIRVAC2D is suitable to capture the nocturnal LLJ development and its characteristics. Results of several HIRVAC2D simulations are presented in order to deduce quantitatively the sensitivity of LLJs to vegetation and model parameters as well as meteorological quantities. It is shown that the geostrophic wind speed is an important criterion for the development of LLJs within a height range between 50 and 300 m. For a geostrophic wind speed of 4 m s−1, a nocturnal LLJ occurs remarkably more frequent as for a wind speed of 10 m s−1. To interpret and evaluate this result regarding possible wind power applications, a frequency distribution of the geostrophic wind speed was calculated over 30 years exemplarily at two locations using the meso-scale model COSMO in climate mode. Additionally, the type of land use has an impact on the height and intensity of LLJs. For a grassland site, the nocturnal LLJ is noticeably more frequent in the considered height range, but with a smaller wind speed and at a lower height above ground in comparison to deciduous or coniferous forests.

scholarly journals A case study of wind farm effects using two wake parameterizations in WRF (V3.7) in the presence of low level jets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli G. Larsén ◽  
Jana Fischereit
Keyword(s):  
Wind Farm ◽  
Wrf Model ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Weather Research And Forecasting ◽  
Flow Acceleration ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets ◽  
Flight Measurements

Abstract. While the wind farm parameterization by Fitch et al. (2012) in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has been used and evaluated frequently, the Explicit Wake Parameterization (EWP) by Volker et al. (2015) is less well explored. The openly available high frequency flight measurements from Bärfuss et al. (2019) provide an opportunity to directly compare the simulation results from the EWP and Fitch scheme with in situ measurements. In doing so, this study aims to compliment the recent study by Siedersleben et al. (2020) by (1) comparing the EWP and Fitch schemes in terms of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and velocity deficit, together with FINO 1 measurements and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data and (2) exploring the interactions of the wind farm with Low Level Jets. Both the Fitch and the EWP schemes can capture the mean wind field in the presence of the wind farm consistently and well. However, their skill is limited in capturing the flow acceleration along the farm edge. TKE in the EWP scheme is significantly underestimated, suggesting that an explicit turbine-induced TKE source should be included in addition to the implicit source from shear. The position of the LLJ nose and the shear beneath the jet nose are modified by the presence of wind farms.

scholarly journals Interactions Between the Nocturnal Low-Level Jets and the Urban Boundary Layer: A Case Study over London

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristofanis Tsiringakis ◽  
Natalie E. Theeuwes ◽  
Janet F. Barlow ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Urban Boundary Layer ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets

AbstractUnderstanding the physical processes that affect the turbulent structure of the nocturnal urban boundary layer (UBL) is essential for improving forecasts of air quality and the air temperature in urban areas. Low-level jets (LLJs) have been shown to affect turbulence in the nocturnal UBL. We investigate the interaction of a mesoscale LLJ with the UBL during a 60-h case study. We use observations from two Doppler lidars and results from two high-resolution numerical-weather-prediction models (Weather Research and Forecasting model, and the Met Office Unified Model for limited-area forecasts for the U.K.) to study differences in the occurrence frequency, height, wind speed, and fall-off of LLJs between an urban (London, U.K.) and a rural (Chilbolton, U.K.) site. The LLJs are elevated ($$\approx $$ ≈ 70 m) over London, due to the deeper UBL, while the wind speed and fall-off are slightly reduced with respect to the rural LLJ. Utilizing two idealized experiments in the WRF model, we find that topography strongly affects LLJ characteristics, but there is still a substantial urban influence. Finally, we find that the increase in wind shear under the LLJ enhances the shear production of turbulent kinetic energy and helps to maintain the vertical mixing in the nocturnal UBL.

scholarly journals Low-level jets over the North Sea based on ERA5 and observations: together they do better

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Kalverla ◽  
James B. Duncan Jr. ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Albert A. M. Holtslag
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Measured Quantity ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Low Level Jets ◽  
Low Level Jet ◽  
Jet Characteristics ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Ten years of ERA5 reanalysis data are combined with met-mast and lidar observations from 10 offshore platforms to investigate low-level jet characteristics over the Dutch North Sea. The objective of this study is to combine the best of two worlds: (1) ERA5 data with a large spatiotemporal extent but inherent accuracy limitations due to a relatively coarse grid and an incomplete representation of physical processes and (2) observations that provide more reliable estimates of the measured quantity but are limited in both space and time. We demonstrate the effect of time and range limitations on the reconstructed wind climate, with special attention paid to the impact on low-level jets. For both measurement and model data, the representation of wind speed is biased. The limited temporal extent of observations leads to a wind speed bias on the order of ±1 m s−1 as compared to the long-term mean. In part due to data-assimilation strategies that cause abrupt discontinuities in the diurnal cycle, ERA5 also exhibits a wind speed bias of approximately 0.5 m s−1. The representation of low-level jets in ERA5 is poor in terms of a one-to-one correspondence, and the jets appear vertically displaced (“smeared out”). However, climatological characteristics such as the shape of the seasonal cycle and the affinity with certain circulation patterns are represented quite well, albeit with different magnitudes. We therefore experiment with various methods to adjust the modelled low-level jet rate to the observations or, vice versa, to correct for the erratic nature of the short observation periods using long-term ERA5 information. While quantitative uncertainty is still quite large, the presented results provide valuable insight into North Sea low-level jet characteristics. These jets occur predominantly for circulation types with an easterly component, with a clear peak in spring, and are concentrated along the coasts at heights between 50 and 200 m. Further, it is demonstrated that these characteristics can be used as predictors to infer the observed low-level jet rate from ERA5 data with reasonable accuracy.

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