KNMI North Sea Wind (KNMI-KNW)
The KNMI-KNW dataset has been discontinued, as it was driven by ERA-Interim data from ECMWF - and ECMWF delivered the last batch of ERA-Interim data in October 2019. The last data sample available from this dataset is August 31st 2019 18UTC. We recommend using the DOWA data as the alternative for the KNMI-KNW dataset. See further details below.
Introduction
KNMI-KNW North Sea Winds is a high resolution mesoscale dataset that is modeled and provided by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, KNMI. The dataset has a spatial coverage that holds the Netherlands along with its nearby North Sea area, see the black rectangle in figure to the right.
Dataset Description
The KNMI-KNW wind atlas is developed using the HARMONIE mesoscale model – and it uses the ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset as its boundary data. The spatial resolution is 2.5km – and data from the 31960 individual nodes are available in windPRO as hourly time series. The dataset holds data that dates back to 1979. The vertical profile of wind speed was calibrated against the 200 m tall Cabauw measurement mast to obtain a single wind shear correction coefficient; this correction was applied by KNMI throughout the whole dataset.
Usage Note: The KNMI-KNW dataset is discontinued from August 2019
2019-05-29: ERA-Interim data will not be available from august 2019 - so KNMI will cease to produce the KNMI-KNW atlas. The new Dutch Offshore Wind atlas is available for years 2007-2018 - however - regular (monthly) updates of this datasets is still uncertain - as KNMI currently has no funding for maintaining the dataset (but are working to find options to extend the data).
Usage Note: The Dutch Offshore Wind Atlas 2008-2018 as Alternative
2019-02-07: An alternative dataset – the Dutch Offshore Wind Atlas – has been released from KNMI during late 2018. This improved datasets provides a climatology based on 11 years of data (2007-2018) in spatial resolution of 2.5km. The weather model used is HARMONIE-AROME driven by ERA 5 data. Data and more information can be found here: www.dutchoffshorewindatlas.nl.
Data Domain
A map of the boundaries for the data is seen as in the figure to the right. Boundaries for this dataset are (in geographical coordinates):
Lower-left node (N50.29, E1.46). Upper right node: (N54.63, E8.00).
Required windPRO License and Modules
This dataset can be accessed from the most recent version of windPRO given that you hold an active service agreement and a license to the following modules:
- Basis
- Meteo
Release Schedule
This dataset is updated on a monthly basis by KNMI – the data is available with approximately 3 months delay as defined by ERA Interim’s availability. When new data has been made available by KNMI it is processed by EMD, then released as a part of the windPRO online datasets.
Dataset Parameters
The following parameters are available from the KNMI-KNW mesoscale dataset
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| date | . | Date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
| time | . | Time (HH:MM) |
| F | m/s | Wind Speed in heights 10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m, 150m and 200m |
| D | deg | Wind direction in heights 10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m, 150m and 200m |
| T | K | Temperature in heights 10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m, 150m and 200m |
| Q | kg/kg | Specific humidity in heights 10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m, 150m and 200m |
| P | Pa | Pressure in heights in heights 10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 80m, 100m, 150m and 200m |
Dataset License
This dataset has been released from KNMI as free and open dataset. The license referred is CCO 1.0, which can be accessed here:
https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
External Links and References
- KNMI-KNW at KNMI Data Centre: https://data.knmi.nl/datasets?q=knw
- KNMI-KNW Description: http://projects.knmi.nl/knw/data/
- KNW User Manual (pdf-format)
Acknowledgement and Credits
Credits and Acknowledgement: Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, KNMI for the release and maintenance of the KNMI-KNW dataset.