Long-Term Trend of Wind Over Sumatra from Equatorial Atmosphere Radar Observation and ERA-5 Data During 2001–2019

Long-term wind pattern variations have wide-ranging implications for applications like wind energy, construction planning, climate modeling, and weather forecasting. This study focuses on Kototabang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, examining wind trends in the troposphere and lower stratosphere from 2001 to 2019. Data from the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) and European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-5 reanalysis are compared. The results reveal consistent meridional wind speed increases with altitude. Surprisingly, differences emerge between EAR and ERA-5 datasets, with EAR showing an increase in meridional wind speed, challenging expectations of upper tropospheric equatorial wind speed reductions due to climate change. This study underscores the need for multiple data sources and further research to understand complex equatorial wind dynamics and their impact on local and global climate patterns. The findings offer valuable insights into evolving wind patterns and their connection to climate change, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing investigation.