Trend detection and ERA5 inter-comparison of wind speed over Québec, Canada for the last 60 years from 30 Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) ground station data

Abstract:

Standard 10m level hourly wind speed data was acquired from 30 Ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC) stations located in Quebec, Canada (Canada’s largest province). The MELCC wind data spans from 1962 until 2020. Based on the available metadata roughness and height corrections were applied to the hourly MELCC wind speed data. Monthly mean potential wind speed series were then derived and subjected to a statistical homogeneity test. The penalized maximal F test (homogeneity test), was first applied to the monthly mean wind series without the use of a reference series. A homogenized monthly wind speed series was then obtained by adjusting all the significant mean shifts identified by the statistical test and modelling along with the available metadata. A second homogenized monthly wind speed series was then obtained by applying the penalized maximal F test to the adjusted MELCC homogenized monthly wind speed series with a suitable reference series. The homogenized wind speed data from the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) stations that are in proximity with the MELCC stations was used as the corresponding reference series in addition to a geostrophic wind speed series calculated from a homogenized atmospheric pressure series. Finally, a homogenized MELCC hourly wind speed series was obtained by adjusting for all the significant mean shifts using the results of the statistical test applied to the original hourly values.

The long-term wind speed trends over Québec, Canada are assessed using the homogenized MELCC and ECCC wind speed series and compared with the ERA5 wind speed reanalysis data. These trends are compared to those for Canada and North America to investigate the disparate role of climate change and urbanization across the entire province.