Meteorological Measurements Systems
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has extensive capabilities for in situ and remote sensing of meteorological variables. These enable us to characterize the mean and turbulent state of the wind and temperature structure of the atmospheric boundary layer and energy exchange processes at the surface:
- Two 915 Mhz Vaisala radar wind profilers allow vertical profiles of horizontal wind velocities to be measured up to 3000 m above the surface. The wind profilers are also equipped with remote acoustic sounding systems (RASS) that can measure vertical temperature profiles to heights of approximately 500-1000 m.
- A Scintec sodar provides vertical profiles of horizontal winds up to 500 m above the ground with a vertical resolution of 10 m.
- A Vaisala radiosonde system is used to obtain soundings of temperature and humidity throughout the lower troposphere.
- Three sonic anemometers and two fast response hygrometers are available for measurements of turbulent time series of momentum, heat, and water vapor.
- Eleven surface weather stations provide wind, temperature, and humidity data. Six of the stations also measure atmospheric pressure and three are equipped with broad band radiation sensors.
- Approximately 85 HOBO® temperature data loggers are available for long term monitoring of temperature patterns over areas on the order of 100 km2.
- A suite of instruments for measuring solar and terrestrial radiaon are available, including two Ftitchen net radiometers, two Eppley pyranometers, and two Eppley pyrgeometers.
