Variation of Wind Speed with Height

At the earth surface wind speed is always zero. It increases with height above the
ground. The wind near the earth surface is retarded by surface roughness. The rate of
change of wind speed with height is called wind shear. The lower layers of the air retard
those above them, resulting in change in mean wind speed with height, until the shear
forces are reduced to zero. This height is called the gradient height and is typically of
about 2000 m, above the gradient height, known as free atmosphere, changes in wind
speed are not affected by ground conditions. The layer of air from ground to gradient
height is known as planetary boundary layer. The planetary boundary layer mainly
consists of (i) surface layer, which extends from the height of local obstructions to
a height of approximately 100 m and (ii) Ekman layer, which starts from 100 m and
extends up to gradient height as shown in Fig. 7.4. In the surface layer the variation
of shear stress can be neglected and mean wind speed with height can be represented
by Prandtl logarithmic law model:
uz =
Ê-ˆ
ÁË ¯˜
ln
o
zd
V
z
(7.1)
where, V is characteristic speed, d is zero plane displacement, its magnitude is a little
less than the height of local obstructions, zo is roughness length, (zo + d) is the height
of local obstructions.
As seen in the diagram, near the line of local obstructions the average wind speed
does not follow Eq. (7.1), (i.e. the dotted line) but deviates from it and becomes highly
erratic. It is very important then to place the wind turbine well above the height of
local obstructions so that the turbine disk receives a strong uniform wind flux across
its area without erratic fluctuations.