The Influence of the Atmospheric Stability Conditions on the Available Wind Energy for Three Libyan Coastal Cities

Abstract

The lowest portion of the atmosphere is vital to lives, infrastructure, and activities. It means air quality, air motion and momentum, solar and wind energy, and weather safety measures. Wind speed observations at three different heights for three Libyan coastal sites; Magron, Musrata and Darnah, were documented and analysed. Wind speed profiles were estimated employing the two common methods: logarithmic wind and power law profiles. The seasonal and annual patterns, and atmospheric stability classifications were obtained. The daily wind shear variation and wind velocity profiles were determined at different atmospheric stability conditions, neutral, stable and unstable. The results confirm that the highest wind shear occurs during stable conditions at night and for longer in winter days, and the lowest during unstable and neutral atmospheric conditions near midday specially in summer days. Non-dimensional wind speed profiles were obtained and their behavior was identified and compared. The available wind energy history was evaluated considering the effect of atmospheric stability conditions on the estimated extracted energy for each site.

Keywords

• atmospheric boundary layer
• thermal and static stratifications
• turbulence
• mixing
• diffusion
• convection
• wind speed profiles
• atmospheric stability parameters
• available wind energy