Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness

Surface wind speed time series from national meteorological stations are frequently utilized in studies of wind climate change analysis, wind energy resource assessment, and engineering considerations for wind resistance. Every year, dozens of weather stations are relocated in China, resulting in in...

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Main Authors: Zhang Yongshan, Zhao Xiaodong, Yuan Chunhong, Song Lili
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science 2025-07-01
Series:应用气象学报
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Online Access:http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20250401
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author Zhang Yongshan
Zhao Xiaodong
Yuan Chunhong
Song Lili
author_facet Zhang Yongshan
Zhao Xiaodong
Yuan Chunhong
Song Lili
author_sort Zhang Yongshan
collection DOAJ
description Surface wind speed time series from national meteorological stations are frequently utilized in studies of wind climate change analysis, wind energy resource assessment, and engineering considerations for wind resistance. Every year, dozens of weather stations are relocated in China, resulting in inhomogeneous time series data for surface wind speeds at these stations. Based on wind speed data and station history information of 2311 national meteorological stations during 2012-2023 (of which 926 stations have relocated records), the impact of station relocation on statistical values of wind speed, the causes of wind speed variation trends, and related engineering application parameters are analyzed. The results indicate that after the relocation of the stations, there is a significant increase in annual wind speed, accompanied by a noticeable decrease in the frequency of calm winds. Additionally, there are significant changes in the dominant wind direction at most stations across China. The situation of 926 stations after the relocation is as follows: The annual mean wind speed increases by 0.58-0.77 m·s-1, with an average of 0.69 m·s-1, and the wind speed at above 73% stations increases by over 20%; the annual maximum wind speed increases by 3.14-5.60 m·s-1, with an average of 4.21 m·s-1, the wind speed at above 70% stations increases by more than 20%; the annual extreme wind speed increases by 2.05-6.16 m·s-1, with an average of 4.17 m·s-1, and the wind speed increases in over 70% of stations; calm wind frequency decreases at about 75% of the stations; the dominant wind direction alters in about 76% of the stations according to 16 wind directions; and the annual mean wind speed has increased by 0.51 m·s-1 every 10 years, but the wind speed variation trends of the most nearest non-relocated stations at the same time are almost stationary. The increase in wind speed is primarily attributed to the rise in altitude following the station's relocation. These conclusions indicate that the primary cause of the overall increase in surface wind speed in China over the past decade, in the context of ongoing climate warming, is the relocation of weather stations. Further analysis results indicate that there are significant impact on the design of the maximum wind speed for the return period of engineering wind resistance concerns, which increases the cost of engineering and construction design, and analysis results of the local atmospheric diffusion capacity and direction may be altered by use of inhomogeneous wind speed of relocated stations. Therefore, when utilizing surface wind speed data for wind-related research and applications, it is essential to consider the historical information of the station. Additionally, any inhomogeneous data should be identified and processed appropriately.
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publisher Editorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science
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spelling doaj-art-aaab518bc48a4554b2bfba71da04231e2025-08-20T03:16:29ZengEditorial Office of Journal of Applied Meteorological Science应用气象学报1001-73132025-07-0136438539910.11898/1001-7313.20250401yyqxxb-36-4-385Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application EffectivenessZhang Yongshan0Zhao Xiaodong1Yuan Chunhong2Song Lili3Huafeng Meteorological Media Group, Beijing 100081Huafeng Meteorological Media Group, Beijing 100081Huafeng Meteorological Media Group, Beijing 100081Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing 100081Surface wind speed time series from national meteorological stations are frequently utilized in studies of wind climate change analysis, wind energy resource assessment, and engineering considerations for wind resistance. Every year, dozens of weather stations are relocated in China, resulting in inhomogeneous time series data for surface wind speeds at these stations. Based on wind speed data and station history information of 2311 national meteorological stations during 2012-2023 (of which 926 stations have relocated records), the impact of station relocation on statistical values of wind speed, the causes of wind speed variation trends, and related engineering application parameters are analyzed. The results indicate that after the relocation of the stations, there is a significant increase in annual wind speed, accompanied by a noticeable decrease in the frequency of calm winds. Additionally, there are significant changes in the dominant wind direction at most stations across China. The situation of 926 stations after the relocation is as follows: The annual mean wind speed increases by 0.58-0.77 m·s-1, with an average of 0.69 m·s-1, and the wind speed at above 73% stations increases by over 20%; the annual maximum wind speed increases by 3.14-5.60 m·s-1, with an average of 4.21 m·s-1, the wind speed at above 70% stations increases by more than 20%; the annual extreme wind speed increases by 2.05-6.16 m·s-1, with an average of 4.17 m·s-1, and the wind speed increases in over 70% of stations; calm wind frequency decreases at about 75% of the stations; the dominant wind direction alters in about 76% of the stations according to 16 wind directions; and the annual mean wind speed has increased by 0.51 m·s-1 every 10 years, but the wind speed variation trends of the most nearest non-relocated stations at the same time are almost stationary. The increase in wind speed is primarily attributed to the rise in altitude following the station's relocation. These conclusions indicate that the primary cause of the overall increase in surface wind speed in China over the past decade, in the context of ongoing climate warming, is the relocation of weather stations. Further analysis results indicate that there are significant impact on the design of the maximum wind speed for the return period of engineering wind resistance concerns, which increases the cost of engineering and construction design, and analysis results of the local atmospheric diffusion capacity and direction may be altered by use of inhomogeneous wind speed of relocated stations. Therefore, when utilizing surface wind speed data for wind-related research and applications, it is essential to consider the historical information of the station. Additionally, any inhomogeneous data should be identified and processed appropriately.http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20250401station relocationwind speed variationwind direction changesstandard deviation
spellingShingle Zhang Yongshan
Zhao Xiaodong
Yuan Chunhong
Song Lili
Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
应用气象学报
station relocation
wind speed variation
wind direction changes
standard deviation
title Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
title_full Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
title_fullStr Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
title_short Impact of Station Relocation on Observed Surface Wind Measurement Data and Its Application Effectiveness
title_sort impact of station relocation on observed surface wind measurement data and its application effectiveness
topic station relocation
wind speed variation
wind direction changes
standard deviation
url http://qikan.camscma.cn/en/article/doi/10.11898/1001-7313.20250401
work_keys_str_mv AT zhangyongshan impactofstationrelocationonobservedsurfacewindmeasurementdataanditsapplicationeffectiveness
AT zhaoxiaodong impactofstationrelocationonobservedsurfacewindmeasurementdataanditsapplicationeffectiveness
AT yuanchunhong impactofstationrelocationonobservedsurfacewindmeasurementdataanditsapplicationeffectiveness
AT songlili impactofstationrelocationonobservedsurfacewindmeasurementdataanditsapplicationeffectiveness