Roughness sub-layer wind speed model for tropical wooded areas

Abstract

There are few reports in the literature regarding wind speed near the ground. This work presents a model for wind speed from 4 m above the ground, based on year-round measurements in two meteorological towers. Each tower is equipped with anemometers at five heights, as well as thermometers and pressure and relative humidity sensors. The data is processed using Eureqa artificial intelligence software, which determines the functional relationship between variables using an evolutionary search technique called symbolic regression. Using this technique, models are found for each month under study, in which height and temperature are the variables that most affect wind speed. The model that best predicts the measured wind speeds is then selected. A polynomial function directly proportional to height and temperature is identified as the one that provides the best predictions of wind speed on average, within the rough sub-layer. Finally, future work is identified on testing the model at other locations.