Atmospheric science Professor Peter Taylor and grad student Soudeh Afsharian’s paper “On the Potential Impact of Lake Erie Wind Farms on Water Temperatures and Mixed‐Layer Depths: Some Preliminary 1‐D Modeling Using COHERENS” was featured on the front cover of the Journal of Geophysical Research’s March issue.
Their research article covers Lake Erie’s potential as a significant wind energy resource. If wind farms were to be installed offshore in Lake Erie in the limited areas with water depths suitable for wind farms, there would be significant effects on the wind field and they could potentially raise water temperatures.
The objective of Taylor and Afsharian’s research is to study the airflow over certain Great Lakes with and without wind farms to investigate the effects on circulation, mixing and water quality issues.
A more detailed paper has been submitted for possible publication in the Journal on Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, and Soudeh is extending her work with support from a York University postdoctoral fellowship.