In this opening session, Dr. Scott Gunter lectures on weather variables at the surface, specifically focusing on introductory concepts like temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, and direction. He provides basic definitions and explanations for these variables and discusses their importance in understanding and predicting weather patterns. 

In this session, Dr. Gunter discusses the physics of wind. He explains how wind is created by air moving from areas of high pressure to low pressure and provides an overview of how these forces interact to shape wind patterns in different regions.

In this session, Dr. Gunter explains the process of averaging wind vectors and their role in understanding wind direction. It also explores the connection between temperature, atmospheric thickness, and wind speed, providing insights into how various factors influence wind patterns. 

In this session, Dr. Gunter discusses the importance of upper atmospheric data for wind energy. It discusses how this data is collected, how it can be applied to forecasting and climate modeling, and how understanding vertical wind profiles can optimize wind energy production. 

This session covers the variables that are present in the boundary layer. It covers concepts like air stability, air masses, and weather fronts, explaining how they affect the lower part of the atmosphere.

This session focuses on temperature structure, evolution, and stability. It explains how atmospheric turbulence varies depending on the stability of the atmosphere and the impact that it has on turbine wakes. 

This session covers key concepts related to wind behavior. It explains how wind turbulence changes based on height and introduces methods for analyzing wind intensity in different weather conditions. 

This session covers the conditions that can impact the boundary layer. It explains how factors like temperature, wind, and surface conditions influence the atmosphere’s lowest layer, causing changes in turbulence, stability, and air movement.

This session explores different types of wind measurements and how their data is used in resource assessments. It explains both direct and indirect methods of measuring wind, highlighting the role of remote sensing technologies like radar and sonar.

This session covers the basics of LiDAR technology, discussing the evolution of technology and how they are being used in the field. The session concludes with a case study that demonstrates the practical use of LiDAR in a wind energy project. 

In this session, Dr. Gunter begins by giving an overview on the process of scientific research. He discusses how researchers form questions based on needs and how good research is a process of opening up new questions. The session then transitions into a lecture on the earth’s climate history. 

This session explains how climate models use math and data to predict changes in the environment, like wind patterns and climate trends. These models help us understand how climate change might impact future weather events, particularly wind. 

This concluding session gives an overview of the different data types used in wind resource assessments. It discusses data assimilation and the challenges of balancing model predictions with real-world data.