Vertical wind shear is computed between the 28 possible pairs of the first 8 mandatory radiosonde levels. A hail severity index is defined. Statistically significant correlations between strong shear and hail-free days are found in 11 shear layers. Strong shears are also found to occur more frequently with low and high severity indices than with intermediate severity indices. [...]

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Determining the factors affecting drizzle formation in marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds remains a challenge for both observation and modeling communities. To investigate the roles of vertical wind shear and buoyancy (static instability) in drizzle formation, ground-based observations from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program at the Azores are analyzed for two types of conditions. The type I clouds should last for at least 5h and more than 90% time must be nondrizzling and then followed by at least 2h of drizzling periods, while the type II clouds are characterized by mesoscale convection cellular structures with drizzle occur every 2 to 4h. By analyzing the boundary layer wind profiles (direction and speed), it was found that either directional or speed shear is required to promote drizzle production in the type I clouds. Observations and a recent model study both suggest that vertical wind shear helps the production of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), stimulates turbulence within cloud layer, and enhances drizzle formation near the cloud top. The type II clouds do not require strong wind shear to produce drizzle. The small values of lower tropospheric stability (LTS) and negative Richardson number (R-i) in the type II cases suggest that boundary layer instability plays an important role in TKE production and cloud-drizzle processes. By analyzing the relationships between LTS and wind shear for all cases and all time periods, a stronger connection was found between LTS and wind directional shear than that between LTS and wind speed shear.

Magistriniu darbu, kurio tema “Vertikalios ašies vėjo jėginės sparno modeliavimas“, siekiama ištirti mažos galios, paprastos konstrukcijos, vertikalios ašies vėjo jėgainės sparnuotes, atlikti jų kompiuterinį modeliavimą ir analizę. Tema yra aktuali dėl to, kad norint būti energetiškai nepriklausomiems, reikia ieškoti alternatyvių energijos šaltinių, kurie būtų neišsenkantys, prieinami daugeliui vartotojų. Vienas iš tokių - vėjo srauto energija, tačiau gyvenant tankiai užstatytoje, geografiškai šiurkščioje aplinkoje, tenka ieškoti mažų matmenų, mažos galios įrenginių, kurie pajėgtų dirbti esant mažiems vėjo greičiams ir sūkurinėmis sąlygomis, nedarkytų gamtos ar pastatų estetinės išvaizdos, nekeltų triukšmo ir būtų kuo lengviau aptarnaujami. Atliekant tyrimą, VAVJ sparno modelio analizės skaičiavimai buvo daromi remiantis bendrąja hidrodinaminių srautų teorija, naudojant baigtinių elementų analizės, projektavimo ir modeliavimo programą - COMSOL Multiphysics. Atlikti tyrimai parodė, kad didesnį sukimo momentą gausime naudodami uždarų galų rotorius, o įrengus oro srautą kreipiančias mentes, slėgis į rotoriaus sparną ženkliai išauga. Statant šachmatine tvarka keletą VAVJ, didžiausią slėgį į sparnuotes gausime esant 6 kartus didesniam atstumui nei sparnuočių spindulys. / The aim of this master's dissertation on the theme of "FEM modeling of vertical wind turbine using CFD solvers" is to investigate the low-power, simple design, vertical axis wind turbine impellers and to carry out their computer simulation and analysis. The theme is of great importance so as to be energectically independent, it is also necessary to look for alternative energy sources that are inexhaustible and accessible to many users. One of them - the wind flow energy, but living in a densely built-up, geographically rough environment forces us to look for small footprints, low-power devices that would be able to work at low wind speeds and eddy terms wouldn't damage natural and aesthetic appearance of the buildings making no noise and also maximize opportunities to be serviced. The study of VAWT wing pattern analysis calculations were made based on the general theory of hydrodynamic flows, using finite element analysis, as well as design and simulation software - COMSOL Multiphysics. Research has shown that we will get bigger torque while using closed ends of the rotors, and the installation of air flow directing vanes, the pressure in the rotor wing significantly increases. Constructing in a checkered order a few VAWT, the greatest pressure on the impellers receives 6 times greater distance than the impeller radius.

This dissertation reports on studies on the role of the mean state in modulating climate variability at interannual and decadal time scales. In the atmosphere, the nonlinear superposition of mean flow and anomalous flow has important implications for many phenomena associated with variables that are nonlinear by definition, such as the vertical wind shear and surface wind speed. In the first part of this dissertation, the influence of mean flow and anomalous flow on vertical wind shear variability is studied in observations and numerical model simulations. At interannual timescales, the ENSO-shear relationship is compared between observations and numerical model simulations. It is shown that there is strong influence of mean flow on the ENSO-shear relationship. For same anomalous flow, different mean flows could give rise to a different ENSO-shear relationship. The nonlinear superposition of mean flow and anomalous flow also helps explains the dipole mode of tropical Atlantic vertical wind shear variability seen in observations and models, which implies opposite variation of vertical wind shear over the two sides of the tropical Atlantic. This has important implications for predicting phenomena such as Atlantic hurricanes, whose variations are modulated by vertical shear variability. The dissertation also addresses the role of the mean surface wind in decadal variability and predictability, as manifested through the Wind-Evaporation-SST (WES) feedback. The nonlinear superposition of anomalous surface wind on the mean trade wind can give rise to a positive WES feedback, which can amplify tropical climate variability. To study this feedback, we carried out ensembles of decadal climate predictions using the CAM3 atmospheric model coupled to a slab ocean model (CAM3- SOM) with prescribed ocean transport and simple extrapolative prescriptions of future external forcings. Mechansitic sensitivity runs using the CAM3-SOM were also carried out, where the WES feedback was switched off by prescribing climatological surface wind. Results suggest that switching off the WES feedback enhances the prediction skill over some regions, especially over the eastern tropical Pacific, by increasing the signal- to-noise ratio. To address the issue of cold bias noted in the decadal prediction experiments, we carried out additional sensitivity experiments where we used an adaptive formulation for the prescribed oceanic heat transport (Q-flux) in the slab ocean. The results from these experiments demonstrate that the mean oceanic heat transport plays a crucial role in influencing decadal predictability, by helping improve predictions of the trend component of decadal variations.

The European project BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic UnderStanding) focuses on aerosol-cloud interactions. Vertical wind velocities near cloud base, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra, are the two most important input parameters for aerosol-cloud parcel models in determining cloud microphysical and optical properties. Therefore, the present study focuses on the instrumental development for vertical wind measurements to improve aerosol-cloud closure studies. Enhancements in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) have demonstrated their potential as tools in atmospheric research to study the boundary layer dynamics, aerosols and clouds. However, as a relatively new tool for atmospheric research, RPA require instrumental development and validation to address current observational needs. A 5-hole probe is implemented on a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) platform, with an inertial navigation system (INS) to obtain atmospheric wind vectors. The 5- hole probe is first calibrated in a wind tunnel (at Météo-France, Toulouse, France), and an error analysis is conducted on the vertical wind measurement. Atmospheric wind vectors obtained from RPA flights are compared with wind vectors determined from sonic anemometers located at different levels on a 60 m meteorological mast (Centre de Recherches Atmosphériques, Lannemezan, France). Good agreements between vertical wind velocity probability density functions are obtained. The power spectral density of the three wind components follow the -5/3 line for the established regime of turbulence (Kolmogorov law). Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) values calculated from the RPA are somewhat higher than TKE compared to the sonic anemometer; however, the results agree with those reported in other experiments that compare RPA platforms and sonic anemometers (Lampert et al. (2016), Båserud et al. (2016)). As the RPA equipped with a 5-hole probe (defined as the ``wind-RPA'') is developed for aerosol-cloud observations, updraft velocities near cloud base are compared with cloud radar data during a BACCHUS field campaign (Mace Head Research Station, Ireland). Three case studies illustrate the similarity of in-cloud updrafts measured between the wind-RPA and the cloud radar. A good agreement between vertical velocities of both instruments over a range of different meteorological conditions is found. Updraft velocity measurements from the wind-RPA are implemented in the aerosol-cloud parcel model to conduct a closure study for stratocumulus case with convection sampled during a BACCHUS field campaign in Cyprus. Aerosol size distributions and CCN were measured at a ground-site, which served as input to the aerosol-cloud parcel model along with the updraft velocities at cloud base measured by the RPA. In addition, the RPA conducted a vertical profile through the cloud layer and measured the shortwave transmission of solar irradiance during the ascent. The aerosol-cloud parcel model also shows that entrainment has a greater impact on cloud optical properties than variability in updraft velocity and aerosol particle concentration. Results of the case study for the Cyprus field experiment are consistent with results for similar closure studies conducted during the Mace Head field campaign (Sanchez et al., 2017), and reinforce the significance of including entrainment processes in cloud models to reduce uncertainties in aerosol-cloud interactions.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

Free fall is one of the important phases of the operation performed by the Special Forces paratroopers. Also civilian parachutists are performing free fall as a sport by doing aerobatic maneuvers when they reach the terminal velocity during falling before opening their parachutes. Vertical wind tunnels are used for training the parachutists and paratroopers. It is safe, cheap and more convenient when compared to jumping out of an airplane. This thesis consists of aerodynamic design of closed circuit, double return vertical wind tunnel with a flight section that can accommodate four paratroopers, aerodynamic design of a rotor straightener configuration axial flow fan and running CFD analysis of the axial flow fan for different operating conditions by FLUENT software.

Wind power is seen as one of the most effective means available to combat the twin crises of global climate change and energy security. The annual market growth has established wind power as the leading renewable energy technology. Due to the availability of sparsely populated and flat open terrain, the Yucatán Peninsula located in eastern México is a promising region from the perspective of wind energy development but no comprehensive assessment of wind resource has been previously published. A basic requirement when developing wind power projects is to study the main characteristic parameters of wind in relation to its geographical and temporal distribution. The analysis of diurnal and seasonal wind patterns are an important stage in the move towards commercial exploitation of wind power. The research developed during the PhD has comprehensively assessed the wind behaviour over the Yucatán Peninsula region covering long term patterns at three sites, a spatial study using short term data for nine sites, a vertical profile study on one inland site and an offshore study made on a pier at 6.65km from the North shore. Monthly trends, directional behaviours and frequency distributions were identified and discussed. The characteristics of the wind speed variation reflected their proximity to the coast and whether they were influenced by wind coming predominantly from over the land or predominantly from over the sea. The atmospheric stability over the eastern seas was also analysed to assess thermal effects for different wind directions. Diurnal wind speed variations are shown to be affected in particular by the differing wind conditions associated with fetches over two distinct offshore regions. Seasonal behaviour suggests some departure from the oscillations expected from temperature variation. The offshore wind is thermally driven suggesting largely unstable conditions and the potential development of a shallow Stable Internal Boundary Layer.

Le projet européen BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic UnderStanding) porte sur les interactions aérosol-nuage. Les vitesses du vent vertical à proximité de la base des nuages et les spectres des noyaux de condensation des nuages (CCN) sont deux paramètres d'entrée importants pour les modèles de parcelle aérosol-nuage dans la détermination des propriétés microphysiques et optiques des nuages. Par conséquent, la présente étude se concentre sur le développement et la mise en oeuvre de mesures de vent atmosphérique afin d’améliorer les études de fermeture aérosolnuage. Les systèmes d'aéronefs pilotés à distance (RPAS) ont démontré leur potentiel en tant qu'outils pour la recherche atmosphérique dans l’étude de la couche limite, des aérosols et des nuages. Cependant, en tant qu'outil récent en recherche atmosphérique, le RPAS nécessite un développement instrumental pour répondre aux besoins d'observation actuels. Une sonde à 5 voies est développée pour une plateforme d'aéronef piloté à distance (RPA), assistée par un système de navigation inertiel (INS) pour obtenir les trois vecteurs du vent atmosphérique. La sonde à 5 voies est d'abord calibrée dans une soufflerie (à Météo-France, Toulouse, France), et une analyse d'erreur est effectuée sur la mesure du vent vertical. Les vecteurs de vent obtenus à partir de vols de RPA sont comparés à des vecteurs de vent déterminés à partir d'anémomètres soniques situés à différents niveaux d’un mât météorologique de 60 m (Centre de Recherches Atmosphériques, Lannemezan, France). Une bonne concordance entre les fonctions de densité de probabilité de la vitesse verticale du vent est obtenue. La densité spectrale de puissance des trois composantes du vent suit la ligne -5/3 en régime de turbulence établie (loi de Kolmogorov). Les valeurs d’énergie cinétique turbulente (TKE), calculées à partir du RPA, sont légèrement supérieures à celles de l'anémomètre sonique. Cependant, les résultats concordent avec ceux rapportés dans d'autres expériences comparant les plateformes RPAs à des anémomètres soniques (Lampert et al. (2016), Båserud et al. (2016)). Comme le RPA équipé d'une sonde à 5 voies (définie comme le ``wind-RPA'') est développé pour les observations aérosol-nuage, les vitesses verticales (updraft) près de la base des nuages sont comparées avec les données d’un radar de nuage au cours d'une campagne de mesures BACCHUS (Mace Head Research Station, Irlande). Trois études de cas illustrent la similitude des vitesses verticales dans les nuages mesurées par le wind-RPA et le radar de nuage. Une bonne concordance entre les vitesses verticales des deux instruments à travers différentes conditions météorologiques est établie. Les mesures de vitesse verticale du wind-RPA sont implémentées dans le modèle de parcelle aérosol nuage pour mener une étude de fermeture (campagne de mesures BACCHUS à Chypre). Les distributions de taille des aérosols et les CCN mesurés par un site au sol servent de paramètres d’entrée au modèle avec les vitesses verticales mesurées par le RPA. Le modèle de parcelle aérosol-nuage montre que l'entraînement dans les nuages a un impact plus important sur les propriétés optiques des nuages que la variabilité de la vitesse verticale et que la concentration en aérosols. Les résultats du cas d’étude de Chypre sont cohérents avec les résultats des études de fermeture similaires de la campagne de mesures à Mace Head (Sanchez et al., 2017) et renforcent l'importance d'inclure les processus d'entraînement dans les modèles de nuages pour réduire les incertitudes liées aux interactions aérosol-nuage. / The European project BACCHUS (impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic emissions on Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic UnderStanding) focuses on aerosol-cloud interactions. Vertical wind velocities near cloud base, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) spectra, are the two most important input parameters for aerosol-cloud parcel models in determining cloud microphysical and optical properties. Therefore, the present study focuses on the instrumental development for vertical wind measurements to improve aerosol-cloud closure studies. Enhancements in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) have demonstrated their potential as tools in atmospheric research to study the boundary layer dynamics, aerosols and clouds. However, as a relatively new tool for atmospheric research, RPA require instrumental development and validation to address current observational needs. A 5-hole probe is implemented on a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) platform, with an inertial navigation system (INS) to obtain atmospheric wind vectors. The 5- hole probe is first calibrated in a wind tunnel (at Météo-France, Toulouse, France), and an error analysis is conducted on the vertical wind measurement. Atmospheric wind vectors obtained from RPA flights are compared with wind vectors determined from sonic anemometers located at different levels on a 60 m meteorological mast (Centre de Recherches Atmosphériques, Lannemezan, France). Good agreements between vertical wind velocity probability density functions are obtained. The power spectral density of the three wind components follow the -5/3 line for the established regime of turbulence (Kolmogorov law). Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) values calculated from the RPA are somewhat higher than TKE compared to the sonic anemometer; however, the results agree with those reported in other experiments that compare RPA platforms and sonic anemometers (Lampert et al. (2016), Båserud et al. (2016)). As the RPA equipped with a 5-hole probe (defined as the ``wind-RPA'') is developed for aerosol-cloud observations, updraft velocities near cloud base are compared with cloud radar data during a BACCHUS field campaign (Mace Head Research Station, Ireland). Three case studies illustrate the similarity of in-cloud updrafts measured between the wind-RPA and the cloud radar. A good agreement between vertical velocities of both instruments over a range of different meteorological conditions is found. Updraft velocity measurements from the wind-RPA are implemented in the aerosol-cloud parcel model to conduct a closure study for stratocumulus case with convection sampled during a BACCHUS field campaign in Cyprus. Aerosol size distributions and CCN were measured at a ground-site, which served as input to the aerosol-cloud parcel model along with the updraft velocities at cloud base measured by the RPA. In addition, the RPA conducted a vertical profile through the cloud layer and measured the shortwave transmission of solar irradiance during the ascent. The aerosol-cloud parcel model also shows that entrainment has a greater impact on cloud optical properties than variability in updraft velocity and aerosol particle concentration. Results of the case study for the Cyprus field experiment are consistent with results for similar closure studies conducted during the Mace Head field campaign (Sanchez et al., 2017), and reinforce the significance of including entrainment processes in cloud models to reduce uncertainties in aerosol-cloud interactions.