Why 2018's heatwave and wind lull hit some harder than others

摘要

The summer heatwave that swept across Europe not only brought record-breaking temperatures, but also contributed to a "wind drought", according to measurement specialists.The jet stream - the west-to-east winds that determine the continent's weather — had been unusually far north in the summer, allowing high pressure to build up in western Europe. Analysts at Vaisala have suggested this may have negatively impacted the output of wind farms across Europe.In some markets available wind resources in July dropped by as much as 20% below long-term averages, while solar irradiance in many of the same areas was up to 20% above these averages, Vaisala's wind and solar performance maps show.