scholarly journals Measuring the 3-D wind vector with a weight-shift microlight aircraft

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 1421-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Metzger ◽  
W. Junkermann ◽  
K. Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
H. P. Schmid ◽  
T. Foken
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Wind Vector ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Wind Measurement ◽  
Weight Shift

Abstract. This study investigates whether the 3-D wind vector can be measured reliably from a highly transportable and low-cost weight-shift microlight aircraft. Therefore we draw up a transferable procedure to accommodate flow distortion originating from the aircraft body and -wing. This procedure consists of the analysis of aircraft dynamics and seven successive calibration steps. For our aircraft the horizontal wind components receive their greatest single amendment (14 %, relative to the initial uncertainty) from the correction of flow distortion magnitude in the dynamic pressure computation. Conversely the vertical wind component is most of all improved (31 %) by subsequent steps considering the 3-D flow distortion distribution in the flow angle computations. Therein the influences of the aircraft's trim (53 %), as well as changes in the aircraft lift (16 %) are considered by using the measured lift coefficient as explanatory variable. Three independent lines of analysis are used to evaluate the quality of the wind measurement: (a) A wind tunnel study in combination with the propagation of sensor uncertainties defines the systems input uncertainty to ≈0.6 m s−1 at the extremes of a 95 % confidence interval. (b) During severe vertical flight manoeuvres the deviation range of the vertical wind component does not exceed 0.3 m s−1. (c) The comparison with ground based wind measurements yields an overall operational uncertainty (root mean square error) of ≈0.4 m s−1 for the horizontal and ≈0.3 m s−1 for the vertical wind components. No conclusive dependence of the uncertainty on the wind magnitude (<8 m s−1) or true airspeed (ranging from 23–30 m s−1) is found. Hence our analysis provides the necessary basis to study the wind measurement precision and spectral quality, which is prerequisite for reliable Eddy-Covariance flux measurements.

scholarly journals Corrigendum to "Measuring the 3-D wind vector with a weight-shift microlight aircraft" published in Atmos. Meas. Tech., 4, 1421–1444, 2011

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 1515-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Metzger ◽  
W. Junkermann ◽  
K. Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
H. P. Schmid ◽  
T. Foken
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Wind Vector ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Wind Measurement ◽  
Weight Shift

Abstract. This study investigates whether the 3-D wind vector can be measured reliably from a highly transportable and low-cost weight-shift microlight aircraft. We draw up a transferable procedure to accommodate flow distortion originating from the aircraft body and -wing. This procedure consists of the analysis of aircraft dynamics and seven successive calibration steps. For our aircraft the horizontal wind components receive their greatest single amendment (14 %, relative to the initial uncertainty) from the correction of flow distortion magnitude in the dynamic pressure computation. Conversely the vertical wind component is most of all improved (31 %) by subsequent steps considering the 3-D flow distortion distribution in the flow angle computations. Therein the influences of the aircraft's trim (53 %), as well as changes in the aircraft lift (16 %) are considered by using the measured lift coefficient as explanatory variable. Three independent lines of analysis are used to evaluate the quality of the wind measurement: (a) A wind tunnel study in combination with the propagation of sensor uncertainties defines the systems input uncertainty to ≈0.6 m s−1 at the extremes of a 95 % confidence interval. (b) During severe vertical flight manoeuvres the deviation range of the vertical wind component does not exceed 0.3 m s−1. (c) The comparison with ground based wind measurements yields an overall operational uncertainty (root mean square error) of ≈0.4 m s−1 for the horizontal and ≈0.3 m s−1 for the vertical wind components. No conclusive dependence of the uncertainty on the wind magnitude (<8 m s−1) or true airspeed (ranging from 23–30 m s−1) is found. Hence our analysis provides the necessary basis to study the wind measurement precision and spectral quality, which is prerequisite for reliable Eddy-Covariance flux measurements.

scholarly journals Measuring the 3-D wind vector with a weight-shift microlight aircraft

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1303-1370
Author(s):  
S. Metzger ◽  
W. Junkermann ◽  
K. Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
H. P. Schmid ◽  
T. Foken
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Wind Vector ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Wind Measurement ◽  
Weight Shift

Abstract. This study investigates whether the 3-D wind vector can be measured reliably from a highly transportable and low-cost weight-shift microlight aircraft. Therefore we draw up a transferable procedure to accommodate flow distortion originating from the aircraft body and -wing. This procedure consists of the analysis of aircraft dynamics and seven successive calibration steps. For our aircraft the horizontal wind components receive their greatest single amendment (14%, relative to the initial uncertainty) from the correction of flow distortion magnitude in the dynamic pressure computation. Conversely the vertical wind component is most of all improved (31%) by subsequent steps considering the 3-D flow distortion distribution in the flow angle computations. Therein the influences of the aircraft's aeroelastic wing (53%), as well as sudden changes in wing loading (16%) are considered by using the measured lift coefficient as explanatory variable. Three independent lines of analysis are used to evaluate the quality of the wind measurement: (a) A wind tunnel study in combination with the propagation of sensor uncertainties defines the systems input uncertainty to ≈0.6 m s−1 at the extremes of a 95% confidence interval. (b) During severe vertical flight manoeuvres the deviation range of the vertical wind component does not exceed 0.3 m s−1. (c) The comparison with ground based wind measurements yields an overall operational uncertainty (root mean square deviation) of ≈0.4 m s−1 for the horizontal and ≈0.3 m s−1 for the vertical wind components. No conclusive dependence of the uncertainty on the wind magnitude (<8 m s−1) or true airspeed (ranging from 23–30 m s−1) is found. Hence our analysis provides the necessary basis to study the wind measurement precision and spectral quality, which is prerequisite for reliable eddy-covariance flux measurements.

scholarly journals The Coplane Analysis Technique for Three-Dimensional Wind Retrieval Using the HIWRAP Airborne Doppler Radar

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Didlake ◽  
Gerald M. Heymsfield ◽  
Lin Tian ◽  
Stephen R. Guimond
Keyword(s):  
Global Optimization ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Global Optimization Method ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Radar Measurements ◽  
Cross Track

AbstractThe coplane analysis technique for mapping the three-dimensional wind field of precipitating systems is applied to the NASA High-Altitude Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP). HIWRAP is a dual-frequency Doppler radar system with two downward-pointing and conically scanning beams. The coplane technique interpolates radar measurements onto a natural coordinate frame, directly solves for two wind components, and integrates the mass continuity equation to retrieve the unobserved third wind component. This technique is tested using a model simulation of a hurricane and compared with a global optimization retrieval. The coplane method produced lower errors for the cross-track and vertical wind components, while the global optimization method produced lower errors for the along-track wind component. Cross-track and vertical wind errors were dependent upon the accuracy of the estimated boundary condition winds near the surface and at nadir, which were derived by making certain assumptions about the vertical velocity field. The coplane technique was then applied successfully to HIWRAP observations of Hurricane Ingrid (2013). Unlike the global optimization method, the coplane analysis allows for a transparent connection between the radar observations and specific analysis results. With this ability, small-scale features can be analyzed more adequately and erroneous radar measurements can be identified more easily.

scholarly journals Combined wind profiler-weather radar observations of orographic rainband around Kyushu, Japan in the Baiu season

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 3971-3982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Umemoto ◽  
M. Teshiba ◽  
Y. Shibagaki ◽  
H. Hashiguchi ◽  
M. D. Yamanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weather Radar ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Wind Component ◽  
Wind Profiler ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Clockwise Rotation ◽  
Weather Radars ◽  
X Band ◽  
Western Japan ◽  
Lifting Condensation Level

Abstract. A special observation campaign (X-BAIU), using various instruments (wind profilers, C-band weather radars, X-band Doppler radars, rawinsondes, etc.), was carried out in Kyushu (western Japan) during the Baiu season, from 1998 to 2002. In the X-BAIU-99 and -02 observations, a line-shaped orographic rainband extending northeastward from the Koshikijima Islands appeared in the low-level strong wind with warm-moist airs. The weather radar observation indicated that the rainband was maintained for 11h. The maximum length and width of the rainband observed in 1999 was ~200km and ~20km, respectively. The rainband observed in 2002 was not so developed compared with the case in 1999. The Froude number averaged from sea level to the top of the Koshikijima Islands (~600m) was large (>1), and the lifting condensation level was below the tops of the Koshikijima Islands. Thus, it is suggested that the clouds organizing the rainband are formed by the triggering of the mountains on the airflow passing over them. The vertical profile of horizontal wind in/around the rainband was investigated in the wind profiler observations. In the downdraft region 60km from the Koshikijima Islands, strong wind and its clockwise rotation with increasing height was observed below 3km altitude. In addition, a strong wind component perpendicular to the rainband was observed when the rainband was well developed. These wind behaviors were related to the evolution of the rainband.

scholarly journals Adaptive Beamforming Technique for Accurate Vertical Wind Measurements with Multichannel MST Radar

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1769-1775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Nishimura ◽  
Takuji Nakamura ◽  
Toru Sato ◽  
Kaoru Sato
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Adaptive Beamforming ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Constrained Minimization ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Mst Radar ◽  
Vertical Beam ◽  
Noise Ratio ◽  
Beamforming Technique

Abstract Aspect-sensitive backscattering of the atmosphere causes a small error in an effective line-of-sight direction in vertical beam observations leading to a serious degradation of vertical wind estimates due to contamination by horizontal wind components. An adaptive beamforming technique for a multichannel mesosphere–stratosphere–troposphere (MST) radar is presented, which makes it possible to measure the vertical wind velocity with higher accuracy by adaptively generating a countersteered reception beam against an off-vertically shifted echo pattern. The technique employs the norm-constrained direction-constrained minimization of power (NC-DCMP) algorithm, which provides not only robustness but also higher accuracy than the basic direction-constrained minimization of power algorithm in realistic conditions. Although the technique decreases the signal-to-noise ratio, the ratio is controlled and bound at a specified level by the norm constraint. In the case that a decrease of −3 dB is acceptable in a vertical beam observation, for which usually a much higher signal-to-noise ratio is obtained than for oblique beams, the maximum contamination is suppressed to even for the most imbalanced aspect sensitivity.

scholarly journals Eddy-covariance flux measurements with a weight-shift microlight aircraft

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 1699-1717 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Metzger ◽  
W. Junkermann ◽  
M. Mauder ◽  
F. Beyrich ◽  
K. Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Flux Measurement ◽  
Wind Measurement ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Weight Shift ◽  
Flux Measurements

Abstract. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and quality of eddy-covariance flux measurements from a weight-shift microlight aircraft (WSMA). Firstly, we investigate the precision of the wind measurement (σu,v ≤ 0.09 m s−1, σw = 0.04 m s−1), the lynchpin of flux calculations from aircraft. From here, the smallest resolvable changes in friction velocity (0.02 m s−1), and sensible- (5 W m−2) and latent (3 W m−2) heat flux are estimated. Secondly, a seven-day flight campaign was performed near Lindenberg (Germany). Here we compare measurements of wind, temperature, humidity and respective fluxes between a tall tower and the WSMA. The maximum likelihood functional relationship (MLFR) between tower and WSMA measurements considers the random error in the data, and shows very good agreement of the scalar averages. The MLFRs for standard deviations (SDs, 2–34%) and fluxes (17–21%) indicate higher estimates of the airborne measurements compared to the tower. Considering the 99.5% confidence intervals, the observed differences are not significant, with exception of the temperature SD. The comparison with a large-aperture scintillometer reveals lower sensible heat flux estimates at both tower (−40 to −25%) and WSMA (−25–0%). We relate the observed differences to (i) inconsistencies in the temperature and wind measurement at the tower and (ii) the measurement platforms' differing abilities to capture contributions from non-propagating eddies. These findings encourage the use of WSMA as a low cost and highly versatile flux measurement platform.

scholarly journals A Simulation Experiment to Retrieve the Atmospheric Density and Three-Dimensional Wind Field by Double Falling Spheres

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1312
Author(s):  
Yue Wu ◽  
Zheng Sheng ◽  
Xinjie Zuo ◽  
Minghao Yang
Keyword(s):  
Wind Field ◽  
Simulation Experiment ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Atmospheric Density ◽  
Falling Sphere ◽  
Falling Spheres

Falling-sphere sounding remains an important method for in situ determination in the middle atmosphere and is the only determination method within the altitude range of 60–100 km. Traditional single-falling-sphere sounding indicates only the atmospheric density and horizontal wind but not the vertical wind; the fundamental reason is that the equation set for retrieving atmospheric parameters is underdetermined. For tractability, previous studies assumed the vertical wind, which is much smaller than the horizontal wind, to be small or zero. Obtaining vertical wind profiles necessitates making the equations positive definite or overdetermined. An overdetermined equation set consisting of six equations, by which the optimal solution of density and three-dimensional wind can be obtained, can be established by the double-falling-sphere method. Hence, a simulation experiment is designed to retrieve the atmospheric density and three-dimensional wind field by double falling spheres. In the inversion results of the simulation experiment, the retrieved density is consistent with the constructed atmospheric density in magnitude; the density deviation rate does not generally exceed 20% (less than 5% below 60 km). The atmospheric density retrieved by the double-falling-sphere method is more accurate at low altitudes than the single-falling-sphere method. The vertical wind below 50 km and horizontal wind retrieved by double-falling-sphere method is highly consistent with the constructed average wind field. Additionally, the wind field deviation formula is deduced. These results establish the fact that the double-falling-sphere method is effective in detecting atmospheric density and three-dimensional wind.

scholarly journals Vertical wavenumber spectra of three-dimensional winds revealed by radiosonde observations at midlatitude

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao Dong Zhang ◽  
Chun Ming Huang ◽  
Kai Ming Huang ◽  
Ye Hui Zhang ◽  
Yun Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Stratosphere ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Meridional Wind ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Radiosonde Data ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Spectral Structure ◽  
Wind Fluctuation ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. By applying 12-year (1998–2009) radiosonde data over a midlatitude station, we studied the vertical wavenumber spectra of three-dimensional wind fluctuations. The horizontal wind spectra in the lower stratosphere coincide well with the well-known universal spectra, with mean spectral slopes of −2.91 ± 0.09 and −2.99 ± 0.09 for the zonal and meridional wind spectra, respectively, while the mean slopes in the troposphere are −2.64 ± 0.07 and −2.70  ±  0.06, respectively, which are systematically less negative than the canonical slope of −3. In both the troposphere and lower stratosphere, the spectral amplitudes (slopes) of the horizontal wind spectra are larger (less negative) in winter, and they are larger (less negative) in the troposphere than in the lower stratosphere. Moreover, we present the first statistical results of vertical wind fluctuation spectra, which revealed a very shallow spectral structure, with mean slopes of −0.58 ± 0.06 and −0.23 ± 0.05 in the troposphere and lower stratosphere, respectively. Such a shallow vertical wind fluctuation spectrum is considerably robust. Different from the horizontal wind spectrum, the slopes of the vertical wind spectra in both the troposphere and lower stratosphere are less negative in summer. The height variation of vertical wind spectrum amplitude is also different from that of the horizontal wind spectrum, with a larger amplitude in the lower stratosphere. These evident differences between the horizontal and vertical wind spectra strongly suggest they should obey different spectral laws. Quantitative comparisons with various theoretical models show that no existing spectral theories can comprehensively explain the observed three-dimensional wind spectra, indicating that the spectral features of atmospheric fluctuations are far from fully understood.

scholarly journals Field Measurements of Wind Characteristics Using LiDAR on a Wind Farm with Downwind Turbines Installed in a Complex Terrain Region

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5135
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Kogaki ◽  
Kenichi Sakurai ◽  
Susumu Shimada ◽  
Hirokazu Kawabata ◽  
Yusuke Otake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Farm ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Wind Farms ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Horizontal Wind Speed ◽  
Vertical Profiling ◽  
Wind Characteristics

Downwind turbines have favorable characteristics such as effective energy capture in up-flow wind conditions over complex terrains. They also have reduced risk of severe accidents in the event of disruptions to electrical networks during strong storms due to the free-yaw effect of downwind turbines. These favorable characteristics have been confirmed by wind-towing tank experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. However, these advantages have not been fully demonstrated in field experiments on actual wind farms. In this study—although the final objective was to demonstrate the potential advantages of downwind turbines through field experiments—field measurements were performed using a vertical-profiling light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system on a wind farm with downwind turbines installed in complex terrains. To deduce the horizontal wind speed, vertical-profiling LiDARs assume that the flow of air is uniform in space and time. However, in complex terrains and/or in wind farms where terrain and/or wind turbines cause flow distortion or disturbances in time and space, this assumption is not valid, resulting in erroneous wind speed estimates. The magnitude of this error was evaluated by comparing LiDAR measurements with those obtained using a cup anemometer mounted on a meteorological mast and detailed analysis of line-of-sight wind speeds. A factor that expresses the nonuniformity of wind speed in the horizontal measurement plane of vertical-profiling LiDAR is proposed to estimate the errors in wind speed. The possibility of measuring and evaluating various wind characteristics such as flow inclination angles, turbulence intensities, wind shear and wind veer, which are important for wind turbine design and for wind farm operation is demonstrated. However, additional evidence of actual field measurements on wind farms in areas with complex terrains is required in order to obtain more universal and objective evaluations.

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