Rutgers university coastal ocean observation laboratory (RU-COOL) advanced modeling system developed to cost-effectively support offshore wind energy development and operational applications

Studies are underway that are evaluating the offshore wind resource along the coast of New Jersey in an effort to determine the variability of the wind resource. One major source of variability is the sea-land breeze circulation that occurs during periods of peak energy demand. The sea breeze front, driven by the thermal difference between the warm land and relatively cooler ocean during hot summer afternoons, propagates inland and under weak atmospheric boundary layer wind conditions can affect much of the state. However, little is known about the offshore component of the sea breeze circulation. A large zone of subsidence over the coastal ocean, and subsequent divergence near the surface, is known to occur in unison with the inland-propagating sea breeze front. RU-COOL's unique monitoring and modeling endeavors are focused on exploring the details of these offshore dynamics of the sea breeze circulation and its development during both coastal upwelling and non-upwelling events. A case study from the August 13, 2012 is analyzed in this paper; coastal upwelling resulted from persistent south to southeasterly winds for days. In addition, a sea breeze front formed in the afternoon, propagating inland and producing a zone of weak winds offshore that coincides with the targeted area of offshore wind development. Model results, using unique declouded satellite sea surface temperature data, are validated inshore against weather radar and offshore against coastal ocean radar (CODAR). Small-scale offshore wind variability is resolved and verified in the model, which will be critical for producing accurate and reliable offshore wind resource assessments and precise operational forecasts for the future.