Extrapolation of Wind Profiles Using Indirect Measures of Stability

Abstract

The dependence of wind shear on boundary layer stability can be described using Monin-Obukhov similarity theory and modified logarithmic wind profiles. Typical measurements for wind resource assessment, however, are insufficient to assess stability. We show that useful, indirect inferences of stability are possible using measurements from typical instrumentation found on a meteorological tower installed for the purpose of wind resource assessment. Traditional power-law parameterizations, stratified by time of day and season, are often sufficient despite inter-day variations in stability. The effect of various wind speed extrapolation methods on wind energy estimates are demonstrated using measurements made during fall 2007 from a 50 m wind monitoring tower.