Wind atlas for the Gulf of Suez. Measurements and modelling 1991-2001

The results of a 10-year wind resource assessment programme in the Gulf of Suez and northern Red Sea, Egypt, are reported. The study employs wind speed and direction measurements taken from 1991 to 2001 at four meteorological stations, as well as wind data taken from 2000 to 2001 at 11 stations. The 25-m masts were erected specifically for the wind resource study, but provide information on other climate statistics as well: air pressure, solar insolation, air temperature, air temperature gradient, atmospheric stability, wind speed profiles, extreme wind speeds, gust and lull wind speeds, turbulence intensity.

Satellite imagery obtained from NOAA 11 AVHRR data are used to map land and sea surface temperatures. The wind data are analyzed using the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP 7.3). The regional wind climate of the Gulf of Suez has further been modelled using the Karlsruhe Atmospheric Meso-scale Model (KAMM).

Maps of the mean wind speed and power density are presented. The KAMM simulations capture the main features of the observed wind climate; the mean wind speed and energy flux density are somewhat underpredicted. The Wind Atlas for the Gulf of Suez documents the existence of a widespread and large wind resource in the Gulf of Suez, even larger than was hitherto assumed.

With mean wind speeds and energy densities of 7-12 ms"-"1 and 400-1500 Wm"-"2, respectively, estimated at a height of 50 m over roughness class 1 (smooth desert surface), the wind resources are comparable to those of the most favorable regions in NW-Europe. (au).