Anthony Kirincich is an Associate Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Chief Scientist of the Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory, and the lead of WHOI’s Offshore Wind Energy Catalyst Program. Kirincich has a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Masters in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island, and a PhD in Physical Oceanography from Oregon State University.
Kirincich is an expert in coastal ocean and atmospheric processes and the role of ocean mixing in coastal dynamics. Kirincich has developed new methods of sensing the coastal ocean using both in situ and remote instruments and has pioneered the use of land-based radar backscatter to observe ocean surface winds.
The seminar will be discussing how offshore wind energy installations will require detailed estimates of the wind resource present to installation to understand the potential energy, costs, and impacts of an installation. After installation, high quality wind forecasts will be a critical component of understand how much power will be available and when it will be available. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has been developing a long term program to understand the wind resource present offshore and is leading a new DOE-supported project to reduce uncertainty in wind forecasts and improve our collective understanding of the impact of wind farms. This talk will provide updates on both of these projects as well as our efforts to transition newer technology into the industry.