A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies
Abstract Background Spatially explicit simulation models of animal movements through the atmosphere necessarily require a representation of the spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric conditions. In particular, for movements of soaring birds that rely extensively on vertical updrafts to avoid...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00457-x |
| _version_ | 1827300870112411648 |
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| author | Regis Thedin David Brandes Eliot Quon Rimple Sandhu Charles Tripp |
| author_facet | Regis Thedin David Brandes Eliot Quon Rimple Sandhu Charles Tripp |
| author_sort | Regis Thedin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Spatially explicit simulation models of animal movements through the atmosphere necessarily require a representation of the spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric conditions. In particular, for movements of soaring birds that rely extensively on vertical updrafts to avoid flapping flight, accurate and reliable estimation of the vertical component of wind is critical. The interaction between wind and complex terrain shapes both the horizontal and vertical wind fields, highlighting the need to model the coupling between local terrain features and atmospheric conditions at scales relevant to animal movement. Methods In this work, we propose a new empirical model for estimating the orographic updraft field. The model is developed using computational fluid dynamics simulations of canonical atmospheric conditions over moderately complex terrain. To isolate buoyancy and thermal effects, and focus on terrain-induced effects, we use only simulations of a neutrally stratified atmosphere to develop the model. The model, which we name Engineering Vertical Velocity Estimator (EVVE), is simple to implement and is a function of the underlying terrain elevation map, the desired height above ground level (AGL), and wind conditions at a reference height (80 m). We validate the model with data from the Alaiz mountain (Spain) field campaign. Results Compared to observations, the proposed improved model estimates the updrafts at 120 m AGL with a mean error of 0.11 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.28$$ σ = 0.28 m/s), compared to 0.85 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.58$$ σ = 0.58 m/s) for its baseline. For typical land-based wind turbine hub heights of 80 m AGL, the proposed model has a mean error of 0.04 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.25$$ σ = 0.25 m/s), compared to baseline 0.54 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.45$$ σ = 0.45 m/s) estimations. We illustrate an application of the model in movement ecology by comparing simulated tracks and presence maps of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) moving across two distinct landscapes. The tracks and presence maps are obtained using a simple heuristic-based movement model, with the updraft field given by the proposed model and a wind vector-based estimation approach that is currently in wide use in movement ecology studies of raptors and other soaring birds. Conclusions We highlight that movement model results can be sensitive to the underlying orographic updraft model, especially in studies of fine-scale movements in regions of complex topography. We suggest adopting the proposed model rather than the wind vector estimation method for studies of soaring bird movements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:12:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b26dabf2c27429eb08906cba6393b34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T16:12:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b26dabf2c27429eb08906cba6393b342024-03-31T11:38:26ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332024-03-0112112010.1186/s40462-024-00457-xA three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studiesRegis Thedin0David Brandes1Eliot Quon2Rimple Sandhu3Charles Tripp4National Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryAbstract Background Spatially explicit simulation models of animal movements through the atmosphere necessarily require a representation of the spatial and temporal variation of atmospheric conditions. In particular, for movements of soaring birds that rely extensively on vertical updrafts to avoid flapping flight, accurate and reliable estimation of the vertical component of wind is critical. The interaction between wind and complex terrain shapes both the horizontal and vertical wind fields, highlighting the need to model the coupling between local terrain features and atmospheric conditions at scales relevant to animal movement. Methods In this work, we propose a new empirical model for estimating the orographic updraft field. The model is developed using computational fluid dynamics simulations of canonical atmospheric conditions over moderately complex terrain. To isolate buoyancy and thermal effects, and focus on terrain-induced effects, we use only simulations of a neutrally stratified atmosphere to develop the model. The model, which we name Engineering Vertical Velocity Estimator (EVVE), is simple to implement and is a function of the underlying terrain elevation map, the desired height above ground level (AGL), and wind conditions at a reference height (80 m). We validate the model with data from the Alaiz mountain (Spain) field campaign. Results Compared to observations, the proposed improved model estimates the updrafts at 120 m AGL with a mean error of 0.11 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.28$$ σ = 0.28 m/s), compared to 0.85 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.58$$ σ = 0.58 m/s) for its baseline. For typical land-based wind turbine hub heights of 80 m AGL, the proposed model has a mean error of 0.04 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.25$$ σ = 0.25 m/s), compared to baseline 0.54 m/s ( $$\sigma =0.45$$ σ = 0.45 m/s) estimations. We illustrate an application of the model in movement ecology by comparing simulated tracks and presence maps of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) moving across two distinct landscapes. The tracks and presence maps are obtained using a simple heuristic-based movement model, with the updraft field given by the proposed model and a wind vector-based estimation approach that is currently in wide use in movement ecology studies of raptors and other soaring birds. Conclusions We highlight that movement model results can be sensitive to the underlying orographic updraft model, especially in studies of fine-scale movements in regions of complex topography. We suggest adopting the proposed model rather than the wind vector estimation method for studies of soaring bird movements.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00457-xComplex terrainEnergy landscapeLarge-eddy simulationMovement ecologyOrographic soaringOrographic updraft modeling |
| spellingShingle | Regis Thedin David Brandes Eliot Quon Rimple Sandhu Charles Tripp A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies Movement Ecology Complex terrain Energy landscape Large-eddy simulation Movement ecology Orographic soaring Orographic updraft modeling |
| title | A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| title_full | A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| title_fullStr | A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| title_short | A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| title_sort | three dimensional model of terrain induced updrafts for movement ecology studies |
| topic | Complex terrain Energy landscape Large-eddy simulation Movement ecology Orographic soaring Orographic updraft modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00457-x |
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