Including realistic upper atmospheres in a wind-farm gravity-wave model

Abstract. Recent research suggests that atmospheric gravity waves can affect offshore wind-farm performance. A fast boundary layer model has been proposed to simulate the effects of these on operation by Allaerts and Meyers (2019). The current work extends applicability free atmospheres in which wind stability vary with altitude. We validate using reference cases from literature mountain waves. Analysis a flow shows internal gravity-wave resonance caused non-uniformity prohibit perturbations (ABL) at wavelengths where it occurs. To determine overall impact vertical variations conditions operation, we consider 1 year Belgian–Dutch cluster extended model. find this individual is often same order magnitude as total perturbation. In 16.6 % analyzed flows, relative difference upstream velocity reduction between uniform non-uniform more than 30 %. However, small when averaged over all cases. This should be taken into account simulating specific conditions.