Analysis of wind speed data and distribution parameters in Valladolid, Spain

Abstract

Measurements of wind velocity and direction were made at the Low Atmosphere Research Centre (CIBA), 42°1′ N, 4°32′ W and 832 m a.s.l). Measurements taken at 10m height from July 2002 to October 2005 and a second series composed by data taken at nine different heights from 2.2 m to 100 m and for the period July 2003 to October 2005 have been evaluated. Data were revised by a quality control method and the statistical characteristics of the series were calculated. The evolution of the mean wind speed at different heights shows that maximum values are obtained in October and the mean speed increases with height, being 3 ms-1 at 2.2 m and 7 ms-1 at 100 m, respectively. The wind rose indicates that the predominant directions are for wind coming from northeast and southwest directions. In this study the Weibull and Rayleigh distribution have been used to simulate the wind behaviour. The obtained parameter mean values have been 1.4 and 3.5 ms-1, respectively.