Doppler lidar gravity wave observations within North Sea wind farms

We present observations of atmospheric gravity waves (AGW) on the Dutch North Sea, using short-range wind lidars that are deployed within offshore wind farms for operational wind measurements. This weather phenomenon can lead to high-amplitude oscillations in the wind speed and wind direction with a period of a few minutes, and therefore impact wind energy. As an example we show wind lidar data for the AGW event of 2025-05-02, with observations from six stations within four wind farms (Borssele, Hollandse Kust Zuid, Hollandse Kust Noord and Hollandse Kust West). We also show backscatter profiles from collocated automatic lidar ceilometers that shed light on the vertical extent of the AGW. Our observations can contribute in the understanding of the impact of AGWs on wind farm performance.