WP2: Environmental Condition Modelling

WP2 aims towards fulfilling SO1. This is achieved by improving multiscale flow modelling of the atmospheric boundary layer (from mesoscale to microscale) using available observational data and modelling tools, to efficiently understand and model the key global uncertainties and relevant physical processes for the offshore wind energy design and operation. A coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave-sediment transport (COAWST) modelling system, integrated with a wave atmospheric boundary layer mode, is used to identify and quantify important and potentially not-well-resolved processes in the air-sea interaction.

Data assimilation is employed in order to reduce the propagation of boundary errors. Additional focus is given to wave modelling, where nonlinear wave models are deployed to study the wave propagation and interactions for extreme wave realizations. The wave spectral evolution during extreme events is identified and quantified. Finally, the joint statistics of environmental wind and wave parameters and their corresponding uncertainties are quantified, feeding as inputs to WPs 3-6. The advanced modelling techniques supplemented with data provide a reduction of uncertainty which is propagated further in the modelling chain to the wind turbine design.