Wind measurements using classical profiling lidars suffer from systematic measurement errors in complex terrain. Moreover, their ability to measure turbulence quantities is unsatisfactory for wind-energy applications. This paper presents results from a measurement campaign during which multiple WindScanners were focused on one point next to a reference mast in complex terrain. This multi-lidar (ML) technique is also compared to a profiling lidar using the Doppler beam swinging (DBS) method. First-and second-order statistics of the radial wind velocities from the individual instruments and the horizontal wind components of several ML combinations are analysed in comparison to sonic anemometry and DBS measurements. The results for the wind speed show significantly reduced scatter and directional error for the ML method in comparison to the DBS lidar. The analysis of the second-order statistics also reveals a significantly better correlation for the ML technique than for the DBS lidar, when compared to the sonic. However, the probe volume averaging of the lidars leads to an attenuation of the turbulence at high wave numbers. Also the configuration (i.e., angles) of the WindScanners in the ML method seems to be more important for turbulence measurements. In summary, the results clearly show the advantages of the ML technique in complex terrain and indicate that it has the potential to achieve significantly higher accuracy in measuring turbulence quantities for wind-energy applications than classical profiling lidars.

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Abstract. Light detection and ranging (notably Doppler lidar), has become a valuable technology to assess the wind resource at hub height of modern wind turbines. However, because of their measurement principle, common wind profile Doppler lidars suffer from errors at complex terrain sites. This study analyses the impact of the five main influencing factors at lidar measurement errors in complex terrain, i.e. orographic complexity, measurement height, surface roughness and forest, atmospheric stability and half-cone opening angle, in a non-dimensional, model-based parameter study. In a novel approach, the lidar error ε is split up into a part εc, caused by flow curvature at the measurement points of the lidar and a part εs, caused by the local speed-up effects between the measurement points. This approach, e.g., allows for a systematic and complete interpretation of the influence of the half-cone opening angle φ of the lidar. It also provides information about the uncertainty of simple lidar error estimations that are based on inflow and outflow angles at the measurement points. The model-based parameter study is limited to two-dimensional Gaussian hills with hill height H and hill half-width L. H/L and z/L, with z being the measurement height, are identified as the main scaling factors for the lidar error. Three flow models of different complexity are used to estimate the lidar errors. The outcome of the study provides manifold findings that enable an assessment of the applicability of these flow models. The study clearly shows that orographic complexity, roughness and forest characteristics, as well as atmospheric stability, have a significant influence on lidar error estimation. Based on the error separation approach it furthermore allows for an in-depth analysis of the influence of reduced half-cone opening angles. The choice and parameterization of flow models and the design of methods for lidar error estimation are found to be essential to achieve accurate results. The use of a RANS CFD model in conjunction with an appropriate forest model is highly recommended for lidar error estimations in complex terrain. If atmospheric stability variation at a measurement site plays a vital role, it should also be considered in the modelling. When planning a measurement campaign, an accurate estimation of the prospective lidar error should be carried out in advance to decrease measurement uncertainties and maximize the value.