NASA have been creating global satellite maps which will help to identify areas of the earths oceans which have the best conditions for offshore wind farm developments.
The satellite images will aid research teams in the renewable energy industry when planning developments for offshore wind turbines. NASA’s own “Earth Science Division” has funded the research into the wind power map project.
The data used to generate the maps is gathered from the QuikSCAT satellite launched in 1999, which is also used to predict storms and provide a greater accuracy of weather forecasts. QuikSCAT’s data is continuously collected by “SeaWinds” (a specialized microwave radar instrument).
With wind energy predicted to play a key role in providing future energy demands, the NASA ocean wind power maps will be useful for many different companies and government organizations.
Ideally, the development of offshore wind farms should be focused in areas where the winds blow at a continuous rate and at high speeds. The new research undertaken by NASA helps to identify these areas and also helps to provide explanations for the physical mechanisms that produce the high winds.
The data gathered from QuikSCAT will also be useful for the shipping industry, who will be able to analyse the data in order to predict with greater accuracy areas of the worlds oceans which they should avoid to reduce potential hazards.
NASA’s “SeaWinds” program and its published results highlight the importance of wind mapping for investors and governments throughout the globe.
Another shining example of NASA’s open source influence on the modern age of innovative technology. Good job Uncle Sam!
This information is a cornerstone of the essential due diligence required for renewable energy investment decisioning. As an available wide spread tool, this resource will capture and disseminate all the metrics about the major scirocco’s & jet streams from every major ocean and sea on the surface of the globe.
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