Calibrated Probabilistic Hub-Height Wind Forecasts in Complex Terrain

Abstract

his work evaluates the use of a WRF ensemble for short-term, probabilistic, hub-height wind speed forecasts in complex terrain. Testing for probabilistic-forecast improvements is conducted by increasing the number of planetary boundary layer schemes used in the ensemble. Additionally, several prescribed uncertainty models used to derive forecast probabilities based on knowledge of the error within a past training period are evaluated. A Gaussian uncertainty model provided calibrated wind speed forecasts at all wind farms tested. Attempts to scale the Gaussian distribution based on the ensemble mean or variance values did not result in further improvement of the probabilistic forecast performance. When using the Gaussian uncertainty model, a small-sized six-member ensemble showed equal skill to that of the full 48-member ensemble. A new uncertainty model called the pq distribution that better fits the ensemble wind forecast error distribution is introduced. Results indicate that the gross attributes (central tendency, spread, and symmetry) of the prescribed uncertainty model are more important than its exact shape.