Ultrasonic anemometer for research projects
3D WIND MEASUREMENTS
with the Metek 3-axis ultrasonic anemometer (USA-1)
Many people use the USA-1 ultrasonic anemometers for research. These anemometers are outstandingly versatile and can be adapted for a wide range of research applications, examples of which can be seen below:
Project: Study into spider behaviour in the wind (flying spiders!)
Location: UK
Two USA-1 anemometers were used to study spider behaviour in the wind to discover how spiders are able to 'fly' or 'parachute' into new territory on single strands of silk. One of the anemometers was mounted at ground level and the other 1 metre apart at 1 metre above ground level (please see diagram):
For more information please visit the Rothamsted Research press release at: www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk
See also www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18093297
Project: Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory (WAO)
Location: North Norfolk Coast, East Anglia, UK
Data from the Metek USA-1 at the Weybourne Atmospheric Observatory is uploaded to the WAO site frequently throughout each day. To see their latest sonic anemometer data please visit http://weybourne.webapp1.uea.ac.uk/sonic.html
To see the graphical representations of the data for each day click on the dates listed on their website.
These graphical representations include a wind rose and graphs of the following:
Temperature
Vertical Heat Flux
Vertical Momentum Flux
Wind Velocity
Mean Vertical Wind Component
Wind Direction
In addition maximum, minimum and mean data for each month is also represented graphically (click on the months you are interested in).
Project: Measuring turbulent flows over a forested hill
Location: Isle of Arran off the south west coast of Scotland
A field campaign to provide data for validating models and theories on the problem of canopy air flow interaction over complex terrain was conducted on the Isle of Arran.
Please see the resulting presentation (pdf or and PowerPoint versions) at:
http://homepages.see.leeds.ac.uk/~lecimb/presentations
Project: To measure turbulence in and above forest canopies
Location: UK
Metek USA-1 anemometers were used at 2 sites in the UK to measure the turbulence in and above forest canopies. For more information on this research please click on the website below:
Website: http://www.windandtrees.dyndns.org/index.html
Project: CLACE 4
Location: Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps
The CLACE 4 project (Cloud and Aerosol Characterisation Experiment in the Free Troposphere), held during the wintertime at the Jungfraujoch High Alpine Research Station, studies the interaction of aerosol particles with ice clouds. A Metek heated ultrasonic anemometer is used for 3D wind speed and direction as well as sonic temperature.
(A Biral HSS Present Weather Sensor is also used to detect the presence of cloud and precipitation - see HSS references for more info).
Main Website: http://cloudbase.phy.umist.ac.uk/field/clace4/
NB this site includes stunning photographs from the Jungfraujoch High Alpine Research Station
There are links from the main website to the Metek sonic data output and instrument photos
but for a shortcut to the relevant sonic pages you can select the links below:
Metek sonic data output: http://cloudbase.phy.umist.ac.uk/field/clace4/metek.htm
Instrument photo with the Metek sonic: http://cloudbase.phy.umist.ac.uk/field/clace4/image020.htm
Other related CLACE 4 websites:
http://cloudbase.phy.umist.ac.uk
http://aerosolforschung.web.psi.ch
http://www.ifjungo.ch/jungfraujoch
Project: Shoeburyness 2006 Field Trial
Location: Shoeburyness, UK
The Metek USA-1 was used in this project to assess innovative correlation techniques for the study of meteorological and topographical effects on sound propagation by using advanced signal design techniques in conjunction with digital signal processing methods.
Website: http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk
Project: ARTIST (Arctic Radiation and Turbulence Interaction Study)
Location: Kongsfjorden
As part of this study the Metek USA-1 was used to measure turbulence and heat fluxes. The instrument was aligned northward with a precision of 15 degrees at a height of 3.35 meters above ground level. Other instruments at the radiometric station near to Kongsfjorden included a hygrometer, radiometer and 3 x thermocouples.
Published Papers:
Polar Atmospheres (pdf 1.77 Mb)
Study of the surface energy balance at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (pdf)
A Parameterisation Scheme for Surface and Satellite Data Over Sea-Ice and Snow During the Artist Project (pdf)
Characteristics of the boundary layer at Ny-Ålesund in the Arctic during the ARTIST field experiment
Research: Halley Research Station
Location: Antarctic
Details:
USA-1 ultrasonic anemometers are used at the Halley Research Station for turbulence measurements.
The USA-1 ultrasonic anemometers are mounted at 4m, 15m and 30m heights sampling at 40Hz and recording continuously at 10 Hz. There are also 2 USA-1 Sonics at 10 m on remote masts.
Associated website: www.antarctica.ac.uk
Project: Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP)
Location: BNL/NCAR Ceiling & Visibility site, Long Island, USA
As part of the Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP) (which won FAA’s Excellence in Aviation Award, and the National Weather Association's “2002 Aviation Meteorology Award.” ) the Fog Physics and Prediction project is aimed at better understanding the processes determining the life cycle and variability of low visibility (fog) events.
The Ceiling and Visibility site on Long Island is one of the observational sites for characterisation of fog and low visibility environments and is equipped with a 90 m tower which has 7 levels of temperature, humidity and wind sensors including two Metek USA-1 sensors mounted at 32 m and 70 m. (Three Biral visibility and present weather sensors are also mounted at 4 m, 32 m and 70 m).
Associated website: BNL/NCAR Ceiling and Visibility website
Published Papers: First observations of fog and low ceiling environments at the FAA Northeast Ceiling and Visibility field site (pdf 427 kb)
Project: Carbon Balance of Peatlands at Moor House
Location: Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve, UK
A study to quantify the carbon balance of a typical UK upland peat catchment area will measure all components of the carbon budget, including atmospheric and fluvial fluxes. The three components of windspeed are measured at 20 Hz by a Metek USA-1 ultrasonic anemometer mounted at a height of 1.75 m at the eddy covariance measurement site.
Websites: www.ceh.ac.uk
Moor House site background information http://www.ecn.ac.uk/sites/moorh.html
Published Papers: Carbon Balance of Peatlands at Moor House (CEH Edinburgh)
Project: Various projects
Location: Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS)
Website: http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/
Research overview: http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/index.php?id=28
(The LCRS's meteorological equipment includes the Metek Micro Rain Radar, the Metek USA-1 ultrasonic anemometer and the Biral VPF-730 present weather sensor - to see all equipment at LCRS visit their facilities page at http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/index.php?id=45)
Metek ultrasonic anemometers can be customised to suit the requirements of your research (custom configured models are known as USA-1) or you can select from our range of the most popular USA-1 configurations known as the Wind Professional and Wind Research models.
Please click here for more information on USA-1 and Wind Professional / Research 3-axis anemometers
See also...
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