Doppler lidar measurements of the great plains low-level jet: applications to wind energy

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2008-05, Vol.1 (1), p.012020-5
• Main Authors: Banta, R M, Pichugina, Y L, Kelley, N D, Jonkman, B, Brewer, W A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Boundary layers; Fluid dynamics; Lidar; Remote sensing; Rotors; Sunset; Turbines; Turbulence; Wind power; Wind speed
• ISSN: 1755-1315; 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1/1/012020

The southerly low-level jet (LLJ) of the Great Plains of the United States is a recurrent flow feature of the nighttime boundary layer of the region, which has been identified as a region of high potential for wind energy. The acceleration of the LLJ after sunset produces an enhancement of the wind speed over daytime values, and provides a dependable resource for wind energy. On the negative side, occasional bursts of strong turbulence may be generated that can be of just the right frequency to excite strong oscillatory response in the turbine rotors, thereby accelerating the fatigue of the rotor parts. High resolution Doppler lidar has been used in two studies of the LLJ over the U.S. Great Plains. In this paper we show the usefulness of this remote sensing tool in documenting the mean and turbulent vertical structure, and the evolution of these vertical structures through entire nights. This leads to implications about potential usefulness of Doppler lidar in monitoring mean winds and turbulence in real time to aid in turbine operations.