Analysis of the performance of the WRF model in an inert and persistent wind episode in a large tropical reservoir

Abstract This study presents an application of the WRF mesoscale model to the simulation of an intense and persistent wind episode that occurs with irregular frequency in the Guapé reservoir, MG. Such an event changes the routine of the residents, forcing for example, the ferryboat between the cities of Guapé and Capitólio to interrupt the service. During one of these episodes, occurred on September 22th, 2016, measurements were made using LIDAR Zephir ZP300 and an anemometric tower, and these data were later used to validate the simulations. For the evaluation of the results, simulated and observed pressure, temperature, humidity and wind velocity were compared. The analysis of the simulated vertical velocity profiles suggests the presence of a low level jet, positioned around 500 m above the surface, generated by a post-frontal temperature gradient, whose lower part would have been accelerated by the topography and by the variation of the surface roughness following the land-water interface. More studies are currently under way to suggest to the population and local authorities some kind of preventive action.