Coupling wind LiDAR fixed and volumetric scans for enhanced characterization of wind turbulence and flow three-dimensionality

Over the last decades, pulsed light detection and ranging (LiDAR) anemometry has gained growing attention in probing the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) due to its ease of use combined with compelling spatio-temporal resolution. Among several scanning strategies, fixed scans represent the most prominent choice when high-frequency resolution is required; however, no information is provided about the spatial heterogeneity of the wind field. On the other hand, volumetric scans allow for the characterization of the spatial variability of the wind field with much lower temporal resolution than fixed scans. In this work, the recently developed LiDAR Statistical Barnes Objective Analysis (LiSBOA) algorithm for the optimal design of LiDAR scans and retrieval of wind velocity statistics is tailored for applications in the MABL. The LiDAR data, collected during a recent experimental campaign over Lake Lavon in Texas, show a good consistency of mean velocity profiles between fixed and LiSBOA-interpolated volumetric data, thus further encouraging the use of coupled fixed and volumetric scans for simultaneous characterizations of wind turbulence statistics along the vertical direction and volumetric heterogeneity of the wind field.

Automated summary

LiDAR technology has gained attention in probing the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) due to its ease of use and high spatio-temporal resolution. Fixed scans provide high-frequency resolution while volumetric scans characterize spatial variability with lower temporal resolution. The LiSBOA algorithm is tailored for LiDAR scan design and wind velocity statistics retrieval. The results show good consistency between fixed and volumetric data.