Ocean waves shape winds close to the surface and extend their impact throughout the atmospheric boundary layer. In this study, we built a new modeling tool that allows simulations to follow the moving wave surface itself. By testing different wave and wind conditions, we show how waves change air motion, turbulence, and energy exchange above the ocean. This approach improves our ability to represent air–sea interactions, with implications for weather studies and offshore wind energy.

Waves interact with the overlying wind field by modifying the stresses at the atmosphere–ocean interface. We develop and employ a parameterization method of wave-induced stresses in the numerical simulation of an offshore wind farm in a stable atmospheric boundary layer. This work demonstrates how swells change the kinetic energy transport and induce wind veer and wake deflection, leading to significant variations in the power output of wind turbines at different positions of the wind farm.

Strong low-altitude winds, known as low-level jets (LLJs), significantly impact offshore wind turbines. We analyzed LLJs at the FINO1 site using LiDAR observations and reanalysis data. Our results show that models tend to underestimate LLJ intensity. To address this, we introduced a new method to characterize wind profiles and applied a correction to 50 years of reanalysis data, yielding a more accurate long-term representation of these wind features.

The SAMURAI-S system is an innovative measurement tool combining a high accuracy wind sensor with a multi-rotor drone to improve atmospheric turbulence observations. While traditional methods lack flexibility and accuracy in dynamic environments, SAMURAI-S provides high maneuverability and precise 3D wind measurements. The research demonstrated the system's ability to match the data quality of conventional methods, with a slight overestimation in vertical turbulence under higher wind conditions.

This study analyses wind speed data at heights up to 500 m to support the design of future large offshore wind turbines and airborne wind energy systems.  We compared three wind models (ERA5, NORA3, and NEWA) with lidar measurements at five sites using four performance metrics. ERA5 and NORA3 performed equally well offshore, with NORA3 typically outperforming the other two models onshore. More generally, the optimal choice of model depends on site, altitude, and evaluation criteria.