Comparison of ERA5 and MERRA2 reanalysis
This study presents a global comparative analysis of wind speed data from the ERA5 and MERRA2 reanalysis datasets over the last decade (2013-2023). The core objective was to evaluate the spatial and temporal consistency between these two critical data sources for wind resource assessment.The analysis used the coefficient of correlation (R²) to map and identify global regions of high and low agreement. Key findings revealed significant spatial and temporal divergences:
Spatial Variations: While many regions show strong correlation (R² ~1.0), significant discrepancies were identified in areas with complex terrain or specific climatic conditions, such as the Amazon basin, the Andes, and the Great Rift Valley in East Africa.
Temporal Variations: Correlation levels were not static, fluctuating from year to year (e.g., in the Iberian Peninsula) and throughout the year, highlighting the dynamic nature of dataset alignment.
The conclusion emphasizes that these inconsistencies between reanalysis products are a crucial source of uncertainty. For accurate wind energy projections, particularly in susceptible regions, it is essential to account for these dataset differences in wind resource assessment models.
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