Implication of spatial averaging in complex-terrain wind studies ( California).

Abstract

Studies of wind over complex terrain have been conducted at three times and two locations in N California. Instrumentation included conventional cup-vane anemometers and optical anemometers with spatial averaging over path lengths of 0.6-1 km. Autospectra of the path-normal component of wind from the cup-vane and optical anemometers show consistent differences in slope for periods shorter than four hours. The spectral differences are associated more with changes in wind direction than with changes in wind speed. -Author