Use of the WRF-DA 3D-Var Data Assimilation System to Obtain Wind Speed Estimates in Regular Grids from Measurements at Wind Farms in Uruguay

This work assessed the quality of wind speed estimates in Uruguay. These estimates were obtained using the Weather Research and Forecast Model Data Assimilation System (WRF-DA) to assimilate wind speed measurements from 100 m above the ground at two wind farms. The quality of the estimates was assessed with an anemometric station placed between the wind farms. The wind speed estimates showed low systematic errors at heights of 87 and 36 m above the ground. At both levels, the standard deviation of the total errors was approximately 25% of the mean observed speed. These results suggested that the estimates obtained could be of sufficient quality to be useful in various applications. The assimilation process proved to be effective, spreading the observational gain obtained at the wind farms to lower elevations than those at which the assimilated measurements were taken. The smooth topography of Uruguay might have contributed to the relatively good quality of the obtained wind estimates, although the data of only two stations were assimilated, and the resolution of the regional atmospheric simulations employed was relatively low.