Future projections of wind patterns in California with the variable-resolution CESM: a clustering analysis approach

Journal Article · 21 January 2020 · Climate Dynamics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05125-5 · OSTI ID:2274680

Wang, Meina  ^[1]; Ullrich, Paul ^[1]; Millstein, Dev ^[2]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Wind energy production is expected to be affected by shifts in wind patterns that will accompany climate change. However, many questions remain on the magnitude and character of this impact, especially on regional scales. In this study, clustering is used to group and analyze large-scale wind patterns in California using model simulations from the variable-resolution Community Earth System Model (VR-CESM). Specifically, simulations have been produced that cover historical (1980–2000), mid-century (2030–2050), and end-of-century (2080–2100) time periods. Once clustered, observed changes to wind patterns can be analyzed in terms of both the change in frequency of those clusters and changes to winds within-clusters. Statistically significant capacity factors changes have been found at all five wind plant sites. Further, decomposition of the capacity factor changes into frequency changes and within-cluster changes enables a better understanding of their drivers. A further examination of the synoptic-scale fields associated with each cluster then provides a better understanding of how changes to large-scale meteorological fields are important for driving changes in localized wind speeds.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: California Energy Commission; USDOE Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (AU), Office of Corporate Security Strategy; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231; SC0016605
• OSTI ID: 2274680
• Journal Information: Climate Dynamics, Journal Name: Climate Dynamics Journal Issue: 3-4 Vol. 54; ISSN 0930-7575
• Publisher: Springer-VerlagCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English