Visualizations
Focuses on bringing together diverse modeling capabilities to study how the coupled human-Earth system responds to different stresses
Mongird, K., Burleyson, C., Akdemir, K. Z., & Rice, J. S. Electric Grid Visualization: Hourly Renewable Generation, Load, Unserved Load, and Locational Marginal Prices during a Heatwave. MSD-LIVE Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.57931/2001010

Heat Wave Impacts on the Electricity System

Heat waves can create stress for the electricity grid not only by increasing electricity loads beyond expected peaks but also by simultaneously reducing the availability of renewable power, primarily wind resources.

  • This is an hourly visualization of grid stress during a severe July 2018 heat wave in the Western U.S. and goes on to show how this heat wave could “replay” under two scenarios of a warming climate.
  • This visualization is the result of coupling open-source models/data that incorporate climate impacts on electricity loads, solar and wind resources, and electricity grid operations.

Vernon, C. R., Mongird, K., & Rice, J. S. CERF Visualization: Wind turbine siting in central California, USA from 2020-2050. MSD-LIVE Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.57931/2001008

Power Plant Siting and Landscape Evolution over the 21st Century

Downscaling coarser scale capacity expansion plans to a 1km2 resolution can provide a “ground-truthing” that ensures planning models are producing feasible energy futures.

  • This geospatial visualization demonstrates the siting feasibility and evolution of projected wind farm development in Northern California.
  • The visualization shows results from the open-source geospatial power plant siting model CERF and the geospatial siting suitability database GRIDCERF.

Vahmani, P., Snyder, J. & Jones, A. D. Urban-Scale Heat Wave Visualization: WRF-UCM Modeling in Los Angeles, California. MSD-LIVE Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.57931/2229886

Urban-Scale Heat Wave Impacts

This visualization includes an E3SM-based animation of temperatures in North America during the July 2018 heat wave, followed by a higher resolution focus over Los Angeles using the WRF-UCM model to illustrate neighborhood-scale temperatures that account for urban features like buildings, waste heat, and vegetation, as well as sea breeze impacts. Finally, we show the potential impact of cool roofs to reduce temperatures.