Long-range modifications of the wind field by offshore wind parks – results of the project WIPAFF

This publication synthesizes the results of the WIPAFF (WInd PArk Far Fields) project. WIPAFF focused on the far field of large offshore wind park wakes (more than 5 km downstream of the wind parks) located in the German North Sea. The research project combined in situ aircraft and remote sensing measurements, satellite SAR data analysis and model simulations to enable a holistic coverage of the downstream wakes. The in situ measurements recorded on-board the research aircraft DO-128 and remote sensing by laser scanner and SAR prove that wakes of more than 50 kilometers exist under certain atmospheric conditions. Turbulence occurs at the lateral boundaries of the wakes, due to shear between the reduced wind speed inside the wake and the undisturbed flow. The results also reveal that the atmospheric stability plays a major role in the evolution of wakes and can increase the wake length significantly by a factor of three or more. On the basis of the observations existing mesoscale and industrial models were validated and updated. The airborne measurement data is available at PANGAEA/ESSD.