1. Intensification of an Autumn Tropical Cyclone by Offshore Wind Farms in the Northern South China Sea.
- Author
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Deng, Shaokun, Chen, Shengli, Sui, Yi, and Hu, Zhen‐Zhong
- Subjects
OFFSHORE wind power plants ,WIND power plants ,OCEAN temperature ,SURFACE pressure ,WIND speed ,TROPICAL cyclones - Abstract
The rapid development of the wind industry is accompanied by increasing environmental impacts. Currently, there is a lack of research on the impacts of offshore wind farm (OWF) on tropical cyclone (TC) intensity, including the mechanisms involved. This research is carried out by using a coupled and an uncoupled numerical model to investigate the impact of OWF on an autumn TC in the northeastern South China Sea. The results show that the wind speed deficit caused by OWF leads to an increase in surface pressure on the inflow side. This causes the surface pressure in the TC periphery to increase by advection, even if the TC is some distance away from the OWF. The increase in pressure gradient from the periphery to the TC center enhances the TC secondary circulation, thereby intensifying the TC. When the TC enters the OWF, the above mechanisms weaken and the ocean dominates the TC intensification. This is because the reduction in wind speed caused by the OWF results in a weaker sea surface current velocity, which weakens the flow of upstream cold water into the OWF, warming the sea surface temperature (SST) within the OWF. This implies that the horizontal gradient of the local SST is an important factor to be considered in the development of OWF. Sensitivity experiments indicate that OWF can also intensify other types of TC, and that higher cut‐out wind speeds lead to stronger intensification effects. These results also provide a new perspective on TC intensity forecasts. Plain Language Summary: The rapid development of the offshore wind industry has significant impacts on the surrounding environment. There is limited research on the impact of offshore wind farms on the tropical cyclone (TC) intensity. This study indicates that wind farms in the northern South China Sea intensify an autumn TC that makes landfall in China. Wind farms intensify the TC by increasing the surface pressure in the TC periphery when the TC is far from the wind farm. When the TC is close to the wind farm, it is the warming sea water within the wind farm that intensifies the TC. Tropical cyclone can also be slightly intensified when the number of turbines is small. These results help to understand the impact of offshore wind farms on TCs and to improve TC intensity forecasts. Key Points: The tropical cyclone (TC) intensifies before approaching offshore wind farms due to increased peripheral pressure caused by wind farmsThis intensification within wind farms is mainly due to the reduced transport of cold water upstream associated with the wind speed deficitHigher cut‐out wind speeds can lead to a more pronounced intensification of the TC before it enters wind farms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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