Impact of Selected Options in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model on Surface Wind Hindcasts in Coastal Ghana

Denis E.K. Dzebre and Muyiwa S. Adaramola
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Denis E.K. Dzebre: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432 Akershus, Norway
Muyiwa S. Adaramola: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432 Akershus, Norway

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: This paper examines the impacts of five planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes paired with several compatible surface layer (SL) parameterization schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model on wind hindcasts for resource assessment purposes in a part of Coastal Ghana. Model predictions of hourly wind speeds at 3 × 3 km 2 and 9 × 9 km 2 grid boxes were compared with measurements at 40 m, 50 m, and 60 m. It was found that the Mellor-Yamada Nakanishi and Niino Level 3 (MYNN3) PBL scheme generally predicted winds with a relatively better combination of error metrics, irrespective of the SL scheme it was paired with. When paired with the Eta surface layer scheme, it often produced some of the relatively fewest errors in estimated mean wind power density (WPD) and Weibull cumulative density. A change in the simulation grid size did not have a significant impact on the conclusions of the relative performance of the PBL-SL pairs that were tested. The results indicate that the MYNN3 PBL and Eta SL pair is probably best for wind speed and energy assessments for this part of coastal Ghana.

Keywords: wind resource assessment; dynamical downscaling; parameterization schemes; WRF; Ghana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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