Brief communication: Enhanced representation of the power spectra of wind speed in convection-permitting models

Abstract

The accurate representation of the power spectra of wind speed is crucial for assessing extreme wind speeds, but numerical models often suffer from premature energy loss at high frequencies. Here, we show that convection-permitting models from the CORDEX Flagship Pilot Studies (FPS) can reproduce the theoretical − 5/3 slope of the 100 m wind speed power spectra in the high-frequency range, contrarily to other mesoscale simulations and global reanalyses used by the wind community (New European Wind Atlas – NEWA – and ERA5, respectively), which exhibit steepened spectral slopes. This superior energy cascade representation is essential for extreme-wind estimation and eliminates the need for spectral corrections, opening opportunities for improved wind farm design and more reliable energy transition planning.