Using the Time-Lag Correlation Function of Dual-Aperture Scintillometer Measurements to Obtain the Crosswind

In this study the crosswind (U⊥) is determined from the time-lag correlation function [r12(τ)] measured by a dual large-aperture scintillometer; U⊥ is defined as the wind component perpendicular to a path—in this case, the scintillometer path. A scintillometer obtains a path-averaged U⊥, which for some applications is an advantage compared to other wind measurement devices. Four methods were used to obtain U⊥: the peak method, the Briggs method, the zero-slope method, and the lookup table method. This last method is a new method introduced in this paper, which obtains U⊥ by comparing r12(τ) of a measurement to r12(τ) of a theoretical model. The U⊥ values obtained from the scintillometer were validated with sonic anemometer measurements. The best results were obtained by the zero-slope method for U⊥ < 2 m s−1 and by the lookup table method for U⊥ > 2 m s−1. The Briggs method also showed promising results, but it is not always able to obtain U⊥. The results showed that a high parallel wind component (>2.5 m s−1) on the scintillometer path can cause an overestimation of U⊥ mainly for low U⊥ values (<2 m s−1).