Kjeller Vindteknikk develops and delivers ice warning forecasts for several different industrial applications for wind energy and wind engineering sectors. Last winter season, we provided ice warning forecasts for the bridge “Queensferry Crossing” near Edinburgh, Scotland. The bridge is 2700 m long and 207 m high. In given weather situations, ice accumulates on the support cables resulting in falling ice pieces on the road. For the current winter season, we have improved our forecast system by extending the weather input data from the global forecast system (GFS) from one to an ensemble of four simulations. Ensemble forecasts are better in representing the uncertainty of the relevant meteorological parameters, which in turn improve the final forecast of the risk of ice falling from the bridge cables onto the road.

For more information, please contact bjorn.egil.nygaard@norconsult.com

Photo: Paul Baralos, Arup.