Wind-stilling in the light of wind speed measurements: the Czech experience

Investor logo

Warning

This publication doesn't include Faculty of Economics and Administration. It includes Faculty of Science. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

BRÁZDIL Rudolf VALÍK Adam ZAHRADNÍČEK Pavel ŘEZNÍČKOVÁ Ladislava TOLASZ Radim MOŽNÝ Martin

Year of publication 2018
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Climate Research
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01492
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/cr01492
Field Atmosphere sciences, meteorology
Keywords universal anemograph; Vaisala wind-speed sensors; wind speed; homogenisation; wind stilling; Czech Republic
Description Changes of instruments often give rise to significant break-points in wind-speed series. This is particularly applicable to when measurements are automated, a process that started in the Czech Republic in the mid-1990s, when standard universal anemographs were progressively replaced by Vaisala WAA251 sensor (cup anemometer) and the WS425 sensor (ultrasonic). Parallel wind speed measurements, by universal anemographs and Vaisala sensors, at the Doksany (2000–2016) and Kocelovice (2000–2016) stations enabled differences in the two types of measurement to be analysed. Vaisala sensors measure, on average, higher wind-speeds than universal anemographs, particularly in calm situations and at low wind speeds. The differences between the two types of instrument do not depend on wind direction. Linear trends of homogenised daily mean wind-speed series from only a universal anemograph or combined from universal anemograph and Vaisala sensors generally exhibit no important differences in their significance or values. This could indicate that observed decreasing trends in mean daily wind-speeds (“stilling”) cannot be attributed to changes of wind-speed measurements to automated devices; with respect to only two stations being investigated, this is biased by high uncertainty. On the other hand, important differences in the two types of measurement, both in linear trends and their significance, appear for series of three daily readings (0700, 1400 and 2100 LMT).
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.