Abstract

ZAMORA-MACHADO, Marlene et al. Classification of Santa Ana winds for the evaluation of their wind potential in La Rumorosa, Baja California, Mexico. Cienc. mar [online]. 2023, vol.49, e3358.  Epub Dec 08, 2023. ISSN 0185-3880.  https://doi.org/10.7773/cm.y2023.3358.

La Rumorosa region, located in northwestern Mexico, is characterized by intense local wind speeds, which led to the installation of wind farms. In this area, the contribution of wind power from the Santa Ana winds (SAWs), which are part of the regional wind regime, is unknown. In addition, the valley-mountain winds, cold fronts, extratropical storms, and other meteorological phenomena contribute to the totality of wind power production. For this reason, this study focused on classifying SAW events over a period of 10 years (2005-2014) considering the following categories: “weak,” “moderate,” and “strong.” The criteria for the analysis were associated with the average wind velocity magnitude, the dimensionless pressure gradient, and the normalization of pressure values, gust magnitude, and average wind velocity magnitude. The proposed classification provides information on the behavior of SAW in the area and, by extension, their contribution to wind power generation in La Rumorosa.

Keywords : Santa Ana winds; categories; wind power.

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