EMD-Global Wind Data (based on ERA-Interim)
The "EMD-Global Wind Data (based on ERA-Interim)" is a global dataset processed by EMD with the purpose of providing a global dataset for use in wind farm projects. It contains wind data (speed and direction) as well as temperatures and pressures at typical wind turbine hub heights from 10 m to 200 m.
Data Source
The "EMD-Global Wind Data (based on ERA-Interim)" dataset is derived and processed from the ERA-Interim dataset. The ERA-Interim data is a recent global reanalysis dataset from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The full ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset holds a variety of surface parameters for weather conditions as well as ocean-wave and land-surface conditions. A number of parameters describing the atmospheric conditions are also available. The dataset processed and provided by EMD covers a small processed subset, with focus on parameters relevant for wind-energy purposes.
Please note:
The ERA-Interim dataset has been used as the basis of the European EMD-ConWx Meso Data dataset, which provides reanalyzed ERA-Interim data in an increased spatial resolution.
See the details on that dataset here.
Resolution, Coverage and Availability
- Spatial Resolution: The model grid available to external data-users is 0.702 degree latitude and 0.703 degree longitude. Coverage is global.
- Temporal Resolution: It holds four daily values in a period from 1979 until present.
The ECMWF releases the ERA-Interim data with a time-lag of 2-3 months, so expect approximately a three month delay for data to become available inside WindPRO. This as EMD is processing (downscaling) the data for wind energy purposes. Please check the link provided in the External Links section to see up to which date the ERA data is presently available.
Required Modules / Licenses
To access the ERA time series data the following modules are required within in your WindPRO licence:
- BASIS
- METEO
- MCP
Downloading of the data is unrestricted for licensed users, however a "fair use" policy applies.
Data Processing and Dataset Parameters
EMD International has processed the raw ERA-Interim data by a simple, proprietary downscaling-procedure to provide the data at different physical heights covering 10 m - 200 m. Currently, the following parameters are available in the downloadable time series in WindPRO.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| time | UTC time stamp (YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm) |
| wSpeed.x | Wind speeds [m/s] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| wDir.x | Wind directions [Deg] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| temp.x | Temperatures [Deg C] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
| pressure.x | Pressures [hPa] at different physical levels (x). Heights (x): 10m. 25m, 50m, 75m, 100m, 150m, 200m |
References
An open-access journal paper is available. This paper by D.P.Dee et al., "The ERA-Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the data assimilation system" describes the dataset and configurations in more detail. Download your copy in pdf-format here.
External Links
- Homepage of ERA-Interim: http://www.ecmwf.int/en/research/climate-reanalysis/era-interim
- Availability of ERA-Interim data: http://apps.ecmwf.int/datasets/data/interim-full-daily/
Acknowledgement and License
Credits: The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts for the ERA-Interim data.
License: This data is distributed according to the license agreement for ECMWF archive products, see here.
Acknowledgement: ECMWF requests that the origin of the ECMWF archive product (ERA-Interim) is acknowledged in any scientific publications arising out of the use of the products (see Section #5 in the ECMWF archive product license conditions).