A High-resolution Simulation of the Feedback of Wind Farms to the Atmosphere

To determine the magnitude of feedback that wind turbines have on the atmosphere, a high resolution modeling study is conducted using a Blade Element Momentum (BEM) parameterization to simulate the presence of wind turbines. The parameterization, which calculates the forces from turbine blades, is integrated into GATOR-GCMOM, a gas, aerosol, transport, radiation, general circulation, mesoscale, and ocean model, by adding these forces to the momentum equations. GATOR-GCMOM is hydrostatic, fully compressible and can simulate global to urban spatial scales. Since the BEM parameterization can calculate forces at several points along a turbine blade, the grid scale resolution of these simulations is on the order of 10-15 meters. The turbine used in this study is a 1.5 MW turbine with a rotor diameter of 60 m. The effects on wind speed and turbulence, as well as latent and sensible heat fluxes are studied. Simulated velocity deficits and turbulence in the wake are compared with wake data gathered from the field and wind tunnel studies, as well as with other modeling results.