Validation of Dual Scanning LiDAR for Wind Field Reconstruction Under Coastal Atmospheric Conditions

This study presents the results of a one-month validation campaign focused on wind field reconstruction using a dual-scanning LiDAR configuration. The measurement campaign was conducted inland, approximately 6 km from the Thracian Sea coast in northeastern Greece, and involved the deployment of two scanning LiDAR units alongside a reference meteorological mast. Wind conditions were measured at 82 m above ground level, enabling spatially resolved reconstruction of horizontal wind speed and direction. To investigate the sensitivity of wind field reconstruction to probe volume effects, two range gate length configurations—100 m and 200 m—were systematically alternated during the campaign. This alternating strategy enabled a direct comparison under identical atmospheric conditions. The reconstructed wind speed and direction data exhibited excellent agreement with the reference measurements, achieving a coefficient of determination greater than 0.99, and showed negligible systematic bias. Analysis of turbulence characteristics revealed that the dual-scanning LiDAR system underestimated turbulence intensity compared to the reference meteorological mast. These findings underscore the effectiveness of this technology as a cost-efficient and accurate method for coastal wind characterization. Owing to its ability to reliably reconstruct wind fields over long distances, the system holds strong potential for near-shore and offshore applications.