Type of course

Admission requirements

Course content

This course gives an introduction to the atmospheric processes that lead to winds on large and local scales, and how numerical weather models can be used in prediction of wind-energy production.

The course includes training in The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), which is an open source model for regional weather and climate model commonly used for in a wide range of applications, in operational forecasting and in research projects. Other relevant software for wind energy modelling may also be introduced.

The course will include wind measurement from relevant sites, to compare the performance of different wind modelling approaches.

Recommended prerequisites

Objectives of the course

Knowledge - The student can:

• based on physical arguments, explain the atmospheric processes that lead to wind, and local wind phenomenon caused by topography
• describe how atmospheric physical processes are represented in numeric models
• describe what a numerical weather and a climate model is, and how it functions
• describe how numerical models may be used for wind-energy prediction

Skills - The student can:

• analyze and present the results from wind measurements and numerical weather models
• prepare and conduct a simulation with a state-of-the-art weather-prediction model (WRF)
• assess cases and adapt the WRF model for special cases with respect to temporal and spatial resolutions and choices for parameterizations and initial and boundary data

General comepetence - The student can:

• apply their knowledge and skill on new projects in meteorology, climate science and wind modelling
• use common meteorological expressions and be able to communicate self-produced and independent results in the fields of meteorology, climate and wind modelling

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

• Weekly lectures and seminars 40 hours
• WRF tutorial 1-2 intensive days

Relevant computational assignments are given for each lecture. A large part of the workload consists of WRF modelling and analyzes of output, including working on the compulsory assignment. Students should be prepared to work independently on this part of the course, although supporting seminar groups will be given.

Information to incoming exchange students

Please see the "Admission requirements" section

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412