Work

Wind Farms Impacts on Land Surface Temperature and Its Driving Factors in an Arid Area of Xinjiang, China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Wind energy is vital for clean energy development in ecologically fragile arid regions. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of wind farm impacts on land surface temperature (LST) in the extremely arid area of Xinjiang, China, using MODIS (2008–2022) and Landsat data. Key findings include (1) pronounced nighttime warming in winter (up to 1.548 °C/15a) in densely turbine-populated areas, contrasting with autumn cooling; (2) Random Forest regression identifying wind speed, precipitation, NDVI, and snow cover as key drivers of LST changes; (3) enhanced post-construction warming, especially in summer nights in the Southeast Wind Zone; (4) significant thermal effects confirmed against non-affected areas, showing diurnal asymmetry and downwind warming; and (5) a distance–decay pattern of LST anomalies, strongest within 2–5 km of turbines yet detectable up to 20 km. These results reveal a unique spatial–seasonal complexity in LST changes induced by wind farms in arid regions, emphasizing the critical roles of topography and turbine density. This study underscores the necessity of integrating microclimate feedbacks into sustainable wind energy planning in arid environments.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su17219445

Authors: Hongnan Jiang, Mengyu Xie, Xu Li, Maohua Tian, Wangcai Cui, Doudou Hao

Institution: Xinjiang University

Language: English

Topic: Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896