May 14, 2014
Opinions
Opinions
Do wind farms have an impact on weather?
By Marilyn vos Savant | Parade Magazine | May 11, 2014 | parade.condenast.com
By Marilyn vos Savant | Parade Magazine | May 11, 2014 | parade.condenast.com
Edward B. of Vancouver, Wash., writes:
Do wind farms affect weather, at least locally?
Marilyn responds:
Yes, and the more widespread they become, the more these changes will go beyond the immediate area. Some effects, such as ground warming and drying for miles around, are already known, but cumulative effects on the weather—especially if wind farming grows significantly—are unpredictable.
One point to note is that while wind farms are a source of renewable energy, this doesn’t mean they—and other forms of renewable energy, for that matter—don’t cause change. Even improved engineering of the turbines (to reduce turbulence, etc.) cannot eliminate the fact that the machines remove energy from the wind, and this will have an impact on the weather and ultimately the climate.
[See: www.wind-watch.org/documents/tag/meteorology/
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/14/do-wind-farms-have-an-impact-on-weather/