An Oklahoma wind farm is creating an invisible river of wind that reaches much higher than scientists once thought

Scientists mapped wind farm wakes at Oklahoma's King Plains wind farm near Enid using Doppler lidars, meteorological stations, and sonic anemometers under the US Department of Energy's AWAKEN field campaign.

The study observed a broad upward transfer of momentum extending through much of the atmospheric boundary layer, creating an invisible 'river of wind' that rises higher than previously thought.

Low-level jets and gravity waves significantly influenced wake recovery, with effects varying by weather conditions and sometimes reaching far higher than earlier models suggested.

The findings, published in the European Academy of Wind Energy, will improve future wind energy production and farm layout models.