Vertical Flow Simulations Using the Mesoscale Model to Assess Impacts on Soaring Birds around Offshore Wind Turbines

抄録

Vertical velocity of the atmosphere around a floating offshore wind turbine situated in marine areas near Kaba Island, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture was predicted using the mesoscale meteorological model that can replicate not only ridge lift but also thermal lift. In addition, the possibility of impacts on soaring birds was investigated using vertical flow. As a result of the simulation, thermal lift and ridge lift of the area were accurately replicated. Around the coast of Kaba Island, ridge lift mainly prevailed, but almost no vertical flow was predicted above the marine waters near the wind turbine. Observations from a pre-construction survey of raptores such as ospreys and falcons revealed these birds frequently soar around the coastal areas of Kaba Island rather than in the waters where the turbine is installed, so the possibility of birds colliding with the turbine or using vertical flow from the turbine is very low.