A state-of-art wind mapping system, the Wind Energy Simulation Toolkit (WEST), was developed in the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) for use by the wind energy industry. WEST is based on a statistical-dynamical downscaling approach, i.e. (i) a statistical analysis of climate data to determine the basic atmospheric states, and (ii) a dynamic adaptation of each basic state to high-resolution terrain and surface roughness by using mesoscale and microscale models. The approach has already been used by Frank and Landberg (1997), in their KAMM/WAsP method, to create a numerical wind atlas. The novel part of WEST is the fixed wind-speed interval in classification scheme and the integration of different modules (meso-/micro-scale models and statistical module) into a single toolkit in a more portable form. WEST was built for use by industries not having sophisticated computer facilities. WEST is applied to the Gaspé region of Canada. The mesoscale model MC2 (operated within WEST) is run at 5 km resolution, while the microscale model within WEST is at 200 m resolution. The simulation results are evaluated in comparison with tower observations at a height of 40 m above ground level. The mean of the 29 observed sets of wind data is 6.6 m/s. The mean absolute difference between the observed and simulated sets of wind data is 0.83 m/s with MC2 (meso-component of WEST) and 0.69 with ‘full WEST’ (with both meso- and micro- components). The correlation coefficient of the mean wind-speeds between the simulations and observations for the 29 stations is improved from 0.5 with MC2 to 0.7 with WEST.

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ABSTRACT. Measurements from Whitehorse upper-air and nearby mountaintop stations were analyzed with a focus on wind energy development in the region. Fifty years of measurements indicate the region has become warmer and windier. Measurements at the upper-air station have shown increases of 2.7˚C for surface temperature and 1 m s -1 for mid-valley winds over the past 50 years (1956 -2005). The winters have warmed more dramatically than the summers. Winter temperature inversions have become shallower, and a mid-valley winter jet has become a predominant feature. Wind data for 2001 -05 indicate that a minimum annual mean wind speed of 6 m s -1 begins at about 150 m above the Whitehorse valley floor, or 850 m above sea level. At this elevation and higher, wind speeds reach a maximum in December and a minimum in July. The predominant wind direction above the mountaintops was from the southwest, while stations within the Whitehorse Valley recorded winds from the south-southeast. Stations that were more exposed to the southwest reported more predominant winds from this direction. An analysis of the relationship between geostrophic and valley winds concluded that, relative to winds aloft, valley winds were as strong in parallel valleys as they were in perpendicular valleys. The pressure gradients associated with the winds aloft were the dominant forcing mechanism for winds in a perpendicular valley. Geostrophic winds that were parallel to the valley forced the valley winds along the same direction through a downward momentum transport. Wintertime inversions suppress the downward momentum transport, but pressure-driven winds are only indirectly modulated by stratification (because of turbulent friction, which is likely to be suppressed by stable stratification) and so are less sensitive to that factor. Further investigation of wind energy potential is recommended for hills within the valleys, particularly in areas well exposed to southwest winds.Key words: Yukon, mountain, upper-air, wind energy, climate change, geostrophic, valley RÉSUMÉ. Des mesures prises dans la haute atmosphère de Whitehorse et dans les stations de sommets de montagnes environnantes ont été analysées en portant une attention particulière à la formation de l'énergie éolienne dans la région. D'après des mesures prélevées sur une période de 50 ans, la région est maintenant plus chaude et plus venteuse qu'elle ne l'était auparavant. Les mesures de la station de la haute atmosphère attestent d'augmentations de 2,7˚ C pour la température de surface et de 1 m s -1 pour les vents en milieu de vallée au cours des 50 dernières années . Les hivers se sont réchauffés de façon plus spectaculaire que les étés. Les inversions de températures d'hiver sont devenues plus minces, tandis qu'un jet d'hiver en milieu de vallée est maintenant une caractéristique prédominante. Les données relatives au vent pendant les années 2001 à 2005 indiquent une vitesse du vent moyenne annuelle minimale de 6 m s -1 commençant à environ 150 m au-dessus du plancher de la vallée de White...