Windfarms have long been championed as a way to combat global warming by creating clean energy. But wind farms can actually alter the climate according to a new study by a group of American scientists.
The team from the University of Illinois found that daytime temperatures around wind farms can fall by as much as 4C, while at night temperatures can increase.
The study found that currently the effect is restricted to areas near to the turbines, but the increase in larger farms could create weather changes on a regional scale.
The study was led by Somnath Roy, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences at the university, with the San Gorgonio wind farm in California the focal point of his research. He suggested that the turbines' blades scoop warm from the ground and push the cooler air downwards. This is then reversed at night.
Roy, whose findings were published in the Sunday Times, added that he believes the turbines causing turbulence and reducing winds speed are the cause. He also added that the churning of air from low to high can create vortices that could extend the phenomenon for large distances downwind.
Roy's research is supported by a study undertaken by the Iowa State University, who looked at how a 100-turbine farm would affect conditions on farmland. They found that temperatures on the ground were warmer at night, which in turn allowed plants to breathe more.
While scientists in the United States have conducted research into the effects of wind farms on climate, such research in the UK is at an early stage. Currently no measurements have been made on changes to weather around British farms despite plans to increase turbines by tenfold. The UK currently has 3,500 wind turbines, with a further 800 under construction.
The British Government aim to have 10,000 onshore and 4,300 offshore by 2020, but the rapid growth has led to 101 Tory MPs writing to David Cameron about the proposal. The members are calling for a dramatic cut in subsidies to onshore wind farms and more influence for local people to stop them being built.
Comments
I call this total BS.
Yeah, it is likely that the creation of windfarm changes the immediate microclimate.
I grew up in the farmland outside of Phoenix, AZ. Driving out from the city, on a summer night, crossing from the blacktop and concrete and stucco, to cotton fields the temperature drop was obvious. At least 6, if not 10 deg. fahr.
And, the climate around Fukushima, how is that treating us? How much strontium and other nuclear goodies are raining down on not only Japan, but the US west coast?
Given my druthers, I'd take a slight microclimate change, caused by the development from a windfarm, than the radiation, birth defects, stil borns, and the end of the Pacific Ocean as a source of food.
The major issue with large wind farm installations is the noise inflicted on nearby residents. As noted above, paving the earth and the heat emissions of buildings is far more influential on climate near and far than wind turbulence. Stirring a martini may change where the booze and vermouth are, but it still is a martini.
So humans are making worse a thing that is a complete hoax? Is that the way we are trying to have it?
Surely you are not denying climate change or suggesting that wind power is a hoax? Golly, I hope not because that is abysmally ignorant.
Wow, I guess the massive amount of heat that radiates from all of the external air conditioning coils from literally "billions" of air conditioners around the world must be the real cause of the burning earth. Thanks for another anti-anti oil propaganda message sent from the right wing science factory. You are hands down the best copy paster on the boards. You deserve a cookie.
Surely you are not denying climate change or suggesting that wind power is a hoax? Golly, I hope not because that is abysmally ignorant.
Climate change is not a hoax. The science is proven. The one thing that we do know about climate, is that it changes. Always has, always will. The primary factor is the sun. The sun is not 100% stable. When the sun heats up, then surprisingly, so does the earth. When the sun cools a bit, we chill out too. Also, when the earth heats up the seas release co2. Way more co2 then we release. Same thing when a volcano pops it's cork. Also, the primary greenhouse gas is. H2O.
And, when we release sequestered hydrocarbons we greatly increase the natural process and tip the balances greatly. Fossil fuels play a huge role, as does our very inefficient use because we will not invest in energy savings. Because that would cut corporate profits and require spending even if we would save enough to pay for the energy conservation in buildings and transportation.
If the sun were heating up the planet more than usually, then it would show in our upper atmosphere, where the sun also shines. But that in fact is not happening. Warming is limited to the lower atmosphere, indicative of a greenhouse effect, rather than an external increase in heat. The science does not back up the sun excuse. Yes, climate always changes, the concern is the rate of change. Ice ages happen over thousands of years. We are seeing the changes in our lifetimes. And warming means the weather is more volatile and less predictable.
Damn those pesky facts. It makes the excuses much less useful.