Cory Demko

University of Wyoming

Dept of Atmospheric Science

MS candidate

Measurements and Modeling of Sub – Grid Scale Boundary Layer Turbulence

Wind turbines, particularly ones located in and around mountain regions, experience a high failure rate. This has been attributed to nocturnal turbulent episodes. As atmospheric stability increases, turbulence occurs in short bursts, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to tens of minutes. Interactions between the planetary boundary layer and the complex terrain make, at times, an extremely dangerous environment for wind turbine blades. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has funded this project in an attempt to simulate and to better understand these turbulent events.

Obtaining field measurements with high vertical resolution, the focus of this research is to:

· discuss, in detail, the boundary layer, its components, as viewed from field data collected;

· discuss the model’s capability in reproducing the turbulent nature of the planetary boundary layer, using various boundary layer modeling schemes.

This research will shed light upon the turbulent structures, which populate the planetary boundary layer, specifically the stable, nocturnal boundary layer.