Coastal Upwelling Off the California Coast - A Satellite Perspective

Conference · Fri Nov 08 04:00:00 EST 2024

OSTI ID:2477384

Egerer, Ulrike; Xia, Geng; Ghate, Virendra; Krishnamurthy, Raghavendra

The planning of offshore wind farms off the California coast, near Humboldt Bay in northern CA and Morro Bay in central CA, raises concerns about their potential influence on local wind patterns and, consequently, coastal upwelling dynamics. The coastal upwelling phenomenon is responsible for transporting cold, nutrient-rich waters from the deeper ocean to the surface, nurturing the area's ecosystems and fisheries that are deeply intertwined with the region's cultural identity. As stakeholders voice concerns about the impact of the wind farm developments, this study endeavors to shed light on the interactions between offshore wind conditions and coastal upwelling processes using satellite data. We aim to provide observational insights from a multi-decade time period that deepen the scientific understanding of coastal upwelling processes and eventually inform sustainable energy policies with broader implications for coastal ecosystems.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Wind Energy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 2477384
• Report Number(s): NREL/PR-5000-91801; MainId:93579; UUID:e234ddfb-d17b-4c2e-bd79-a57d5dd0c64f; MainAdminId:74193
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

California
ENGINEERING
WIND ENERGY
coastal upwelling
offshore wind energy