Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements
A proper understanding of marine wind characteristics is of essential importance across a wide range of engineering applications. While the offshore wind speed and turbulence characteristics have been examined extensively, the knowledge of wind veer (i.e., turning of wind with height) is much less u...
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doaj-3176326ccf034d1492d451b3d187fe842020-11-25T04:03:22ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-10-01111178117810.3390/atmos11111178Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar MeasurementsZhenru Shu0Qiusheng Li1Yuncheng He2Pak Wai Chan3Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UKDepartment of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaJoint Research Centre for Disaster Prevention and Control of Engineering Structures, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaHong Kong Observatory, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaA proper understanding of marine wind characteristics is of essential importance across a wide range of engineering applications. While the offshore wind speed and turbulence characteristics have been examined extensively, the knowledge of wind veer (i.e., turning of wind with height) is much less understood and discussed. This paper presents an investigation of marine wind field with particular emphasis on wind veer characteristics. Extensive observations from a light detection and ranging (Lidar) system at an offshore platform in Hong Kong were examined to characterize the wind veer profiles up to a height of 180 m. The results underscored the occurrence of marine wind veer, with a well-defined two-fold vertical structure. The observed maximum wind veer angle exhibits a reverse correlation with mean wind speed, which decreases from 2.47° to 0.59° for open-sea terrain, and from 7.45° to 1.92° for hilly terrain. In addition, seasonal variability of wind veer is apparent, which is most pronounced during spring and winter due to the frequent occurrence of the low-level jet. The dependence of wind veer on atmospheric stability is evident, particularly during winter and spring. In general, neutral stratification reveals larger values of wind veer angle as compared to those in stable and unstable stratification conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1178marine wind characteristicwind veerLidar observationterrain effectseasonal variabilityatmospheric stability |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zhenru Shu Qiusheng Li Yuncheng He Pak Wai Chan |
spellingShingle |
Zhenru Shu Qiusheng Li Yuncheng He Pak Wai Chan Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements Atmosphere marine wind characteristic wind veer Lidar observation terrain effect seasonal variability atmospheric stability |
author_facet |
Zhenru Shu Qiusheng Li Yuncheng He Pak Wai Chan |
author_sort |
Zhenru Shu |
title |
Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements |
title_short |
Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements |
title_full |
Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements |
title_fullStr |
Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements |
title_full_unstemmed |
Investigation of Marine Wind Veer Characteristics Using Wind Lidar Measurements |
title_sort |
investigation of marine wind veer characteristics using wind lidar measurements |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Atmosphere |
issn |
2073-4433 |
publishDate |
2020-10-01 |
description |
A proper understanding of marine wind characteristics is of essential importance across a wide range of engineering applications. While the offshore wind speed and turbulence characteristics have been examined extensively, the knowledge of wind veer (i.e., turning of wind with height) is much less understood and discussed. This paper presents an investigation of marine wind field with particular emphasis on wind veer characteristics. Extensive observations from a light detection and ranging (Lidar) system at an offshore platform in Hong Kong were examined to characterize the wind veer profiles up to a height of 180 m. The results underscored the occurrence of marine wind veer, with a well-defined two-fold vertical structure. The observed maximum wind veer angle exhibits a reverse correlation with mean wind speed, which decreases from 2.47° to 0.59° for open-sea terrain, and from 7.45° to 1.92° for hilly terrain. In addition, seasonal variability of wind veer is apparent, which is most pronounced during spring and winter due to the frequent occurrence of the low-level jet. The dependence of wind veer on atmospheric stability is evident, particularly during winter and spring. In general, neutral stratification reveals larger values of wind veer angle as compared to those in stable and unstable stratification conditions. |
topic |
marine wind characteristic wind veer Lidar observation terrain effect seasonal variability atmospheric stability |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1178 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT zhenrushu investigationofmarinewindveercharacteristicsusingwindlidarmeasurements AT qiushengli investigationofmarinewindveercharacteristicsusingwindlidarmeasurements AT yunchenghe investigationofmarinewindveercharacteristicsusingwindlidarmeasurements AT pakwaichan investigationofmarinewindveercharacteristicsusingwindlidarmeasurements |
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