Shaw, W. | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2020

Mesoscale to Microscale Coupling for Wind Energy Applications: Addressing the Challenges

The purpose of the US DOE's Mesoscale to Microscale Coupling (MMC) Project is to develop, verify, and validate physical models and modeling techniques that bridge the most important atmospheric scales that determine wind plant performance and reliability. The project seeks to create a new predictive numerical simulation capability that represents a range of dynamic atmospheric flow conditions impacting wind plant performance.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1989

Ocean radar backscatter relationship with near-surface winds - A case study during Fasinex

A case study of the ocean radar backscatter dependence on near-surface wind and wind stress is presented using the data obtained on February 18, 1986 during the Frontal Air-Sea Interaction Experiment. The particular wind-wave conditions and their variations across a sharp sea surface temperature front are described. The small change in wind speed across the front cannot account for the large change in wind stress implying significant changes in the drag coefficient and surface roughness length. The results strengthen the hypothesis that radar backscatter is closely correlated to wind stress, and therefore, could be used for remote sensing of the wind stress itself over the global oceans.

Li, F.↗