Can wind farms cause local warming?

October 11, 2010 11:41 AM

Can wind farms cause local warming? A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science suggests that wind farms can cool local temperatures during the day and warm them at night. The researchers write that wind farms impact temperature simply by stirring the air around: turbine rotors cause turbulence, bringing down upper-level air while pushing up surface-level air and mixing them enough to change temperature. The authors speculate this phenomenon could actually have some benefits. For example, wind turbines built over farmland in the Midwest would warm air at night, possibly extending the growing season and providing some protection from frost.
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