Simulating wind patterns across Marion Island using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

Marion Island is a sub-Antarctic island located between 40 and 50 °S, in a region known as the roaring forties. It is generally assumed that wind has a significant impact on both the biotic and abiotic systems on the island, but there is a lack of quantitative data on detailed in-island wind patterns produced by the dominant wind direction and speed ranges. The aim of the present study is to simulate air flow across Marion Island’s topography using computational fluid dynamics (CFD.. CFD is an engineering tool commonly used in the field of fluid dynamics and has been used to simulate flow over complex landscapes, although not typically at this spatial scale. A baseline CFD model will be produced for a range of wind directions and speeds that are presently dominant around Marion Island. The computational simulations will be validated by comparing the simulation model to existing validation cases as well as comparing the computational data to a series of measurements taken on Marion Island over a period of two years. Once a baseline simulation model has been created, the wind patterns may be used to assess the relationship between the wind patterns and the ecological systems in the current climate. It is then possible to computationally simulate wind flows at additional wind directions, thereby assessing the impact of a change in dominant wind direction on ecological systems on Marion Island. - Abstract as displayed in the - Abstract booklet. The presentation on the day may differ from the - Abstract.