Influence of simple terrain on the spatial variability of a low-level jet and wind farm performance in the AWAKEN field campaign

Radünz, William C.; Carmo, Bruno; Lundquist, Julie K.; Letizia, Stefano; Abraham, Aliza; Wise, Adam S.; Sanchez Gomez, Miguel; Hamilton, Nicholas; Rai, Raj K.; Peixoto, Pedro S.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2365-2025

Articles | Volume 10, issue 10

https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2365-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-10-2365-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 10, issue 10

Research article

|

24 Oct 2025

Research article |

| 24 Oct 2025

Influence of simple terrain on the spatial variability of a low-level jet and wind farm performance in the AWAKEN field campaign

William C. Radünz, Bruno Carmo, Julie K. Lundquist, Stefano Letizia, Aliza Abraham, Adam S. Wise, Miguel Sanchez Gomez, Nicholas Hamilton, Raj K. Rai, and Pedro S. Peixoto

Model code and software

Supporting files for “Influence of simple terrain on the spatial variability of a low-level jet and wind 70 farm performance in the AWAKEN field campaign”: WRFLES- GAD model framework configuration W. C. Radünz https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14210836

Video supplement

Multiscale large-eddy simulations of a low-level jet interacting with a wind farm and terrain (vertical slices of wind speed) W. C. Radünz https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14193192

Multiscale large-eddy simulations of a low-level jet interacting with a wind farm and terrain (vertical slices of potential temperature) W. C. Radünz https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14193210

Multiscale large-eddy simulations of a low-level jet interacting with a wind farm and terrain (wind speed at 90 m AGL) W. C. Radünz https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14193200

Short summary

We explore how simple terrain influences spatial variations in wind speed and wind farm performance during a low-level jet. Using simulations, field observations, and turbine production data, we find that downstream turbines produce more power than upstream ones, despite being subjected to wake effects. This counterintuitive result arises because the low-level jet and winds near turbine rotors are highly sensitive to topographic features, leading to stronger winds at the downstream turbines.