Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 9 1 2009 10.5194/acpd-9-2917-2009 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/2917/2009/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/2917/2009/acpd-9-2917-2009.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/2917/2009/acpd-9-2917-2009.pdf 2917 2931 2009-01-29 Weather response to management of a large wind turbine array D. B. Barrie dbarrie@atmos.umd.edu D. B. Kirk-Davidoff Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA Electrical generation by wind turbines is increasing rapidly, and has been projected to satisfy 15% of world electric demand by 2030. The extensive installation of wind farms would alter surface roughness and significantly impact the atmospheric circulation, due to the additional surface roughness forcing. This forcing could be changed deliberately by adjusting the attitude of the turbine blades with respect to the wind. 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