Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 10 2 2010 10.5194/acp-10-769-2010 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/769/2010/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/769/2010/acp-10-769-2010.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/10/769/2010/acp-10-769-2010.pdf 769 775 2010-01-26 Weather response to a large wind turbine array D. B. Barrie dbarrie@atmos.umd.edu D. B. Kirk-Davidoff University of Maryland Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, College Park, MD, USA Electrical generation by wind turbines is increasing rapidly, and has been projected to satisfy 15% of world electric demand by 2030. The extensive installation of wind farms would alter surface roughness and significantly impact the atmospheric circulation due to the additional surface roughness forcing. This forcing could be changed deliberately by adjusting the attitude of the turbine blades with respect to the wind, which would enable the "management" of a large array of wind turbines. 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