Per PHYS.ORG: Researchers at the Helmholtz Center Hereon have analyzed the long-term overall impact of this large number of wind farms on the hydrodynamics of the North Sea for the first time. They found that the current pattern could change on a large scale.
The peer reviewed German study is attached. Excerpt:
The near- and far-field wake effects affect vertical mixing and surface heat fluxes – primarily driven by large-scale wind stress reductions – leading to shallower mixed layers and long-term surface warming of up to 0.2 deg. C in wind farm areas. Our findings reveal a basin-scale physical footprint of offshore wind energy and highlight the need to account r hydrodynamic impacts in future offshore wind farm planning.
Note that (1) an 11/2023 NAS study raised concerns about the potential hydrodynamic effects of wind energy on Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology (see graphics below), and (2) a 5/2022 NOAA letter had voiced similar concerns.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 