Interaction between low-level jets and wind farms in a stable atmospheric boundary layer

Gadde, S.N.; Stevens, R.J.A.M.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevFluids.6.014603

Publication 81 · Atmospheric turbulence

Interaction between low-level jets and wind farms in a stable atmospheric boundary layer

S.N. Gadde, R.J.A.M. Stevens, Phys. Rev. Fluids 6, 014603 (2021).

Main finding

The paper asks how LLJ height and stable stratification jointly affect a finite wind farm and how flow adjusts around it. Wall-modelled Boussinesq LES uses a Lagrangian scale-dependent SGS model, filtered actuator disks (C_T'=1.33), concurrent precursor inflow, streamwise/lateral fringe regions, Rayleigh damping, a hub-direction controller, and individual turbine yaw control.

Wind farm internal boundary layer height against downstream distance for five stability cases — **How to read the figure.** Growth of the wind-farm internal boundary layer with downstream distance for five levels of surface cooling, shown alone and then against the height of the surface inversion. Under strong cooling the inversion top lies about half a rotor diameter above the turbine tips and the internal layer flattens beneath it. Figure 6 shows the lateral diversion of flow around the farm that follows from that constraint. Open the full-resolution figure. Figure 5. S.N. Gadde and R.J.A.M. Stevens (2021). No separate licence is stated here; consult the original publication and credited source before reuse.

Why this matters

Use it to show that a farm changes the atmospheric layer and can deplete an LLJ.

Research context

The simulations vary low-level-jet height and stable stratification together. A contradictory Obukhov-regime sentence in the source's budget discussion further limits any claim that separates buoyancy and shear effects.

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