scholarly journals Performance of a mobile car platform for mean wind and turbulence measurements

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 949-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Belušić ◽  
D. H Lenschow ◽  
N. J. Tapper

Abstract. The lack of adequate near-surface observations of the stable atmospheric boundary layer spatial structure motivated the development of an instrumented car for mobile turbulence measurements. The calibration and validation of the car measurements are performed using controlled field experiments and a comparison with an instrumented tower. The corrections required to remove the effects of the car motion are shown to be smaller and simpler than the corrections for research aircraft measurements. A car can therefore satisfactorily measure near-surface turbulence using relatively low-cost equipment. Other natural advantages of a car, such as the ability to drive on any road at any time of day or night and follow the terrain slope, as well as its low cost of operation, make it applicable to observations of a variety of flow regimes that cannot be achieved with the usual platforms, such as research aircraft or networks of flux towers.

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1825-1837 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Belušić ◽  
D. H Lenschow ◽  
N. J. Tapper

Abstract. The lack of adequate near-surface observations of the stable atmospheric boundary layer spatial structure motivated the development of an instrumented car for mobile turbulence measurements. The calibration and validation of the car measurements are performed using controlled field experiments and a comparison with an instrumented tower. The corrections required to remove the effects of the car motion are shown to be smaller and simpler than the corrections for research aircraft measurements. A car can therefore satisfactorily measure near-surface turbulence using relatively low-cost equipment. Other natural advantages of a car, such as the ability to drive on any road at any time of day or night and follow the terrain slope, as well as its low cost of operation, make it applicable to observations of a variety of flow regimes that cannot be achieved with the usual platforms, such as research aircraft or networks of flux towers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Veron ◽  
W. Kendall Melville ◽  
Luc Lenain

Abstract The air–sea exchange of heat is mainly controlled by the molecular diffusive layer adjacent to the surface. With an order of magnitude difference between the kinematic viscosity and thermal diffusivity of water, the thermal sublayer is embedded within its momentum analog: the viscous sublayer. Therefore, the surface heat exchange rates are greatly influenced by the surface kinematics and dynamics; in particular, small-scale phenomena, such as near-surface turbulence, have the greatest potential to affect the surface fluxes. Surface renewal theory was developed to parameterize the details of the turbulent transfer through the molecular sublayers. The theory assumes that turbulent eddies continuously replace surface water parcels with bulk fluid, which is not in equilibrium with the atmosphere and therefore is able to transfer heat. The so-called controlled-flux technique gives direct measurements of the mean surface lifetime of such surface renewal events. In this paper, the authors present results from field experiments, along with a review of surface renewal theory, and show that previous estimates of air–sea scalar fluxes using the controlled-flux technique may be erroneous if the probability density function (PDF) of surface renewal time scales is different from the routinely assumed exponential distribution. The authors show good agreement between measured and estimated heat fluxes using a surface renewal PDF that follows a χ distribution. Finally, over the range of forcing conditions in these field experiments, a clear relationship between direct surface turbulence measurements and the mean surface renewal time scale is established. The relationship is not dependent on the turbulence generation mechanism. The authors suggest that direct surface turbulence measurements may lead to improved estimates of scalar air–sea fluxes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 1021-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua P. Hacker ◽  
Jeffrey L. Anderson ◽  
Mariusz Pagowski

Abstract Strategies to improve covariance estimates for ensemble-based assimilation of near-surface observations in atmospheric models are explored. It is known that localization of covariance estimates can improve conditioning of covariance matrices in the assimilation process by removing spurious elements and increasing the rank of the matrix. Vertical covariance localization is the focus of this work, and two basic approaches are compared: 1) a recently proposed hierarchical filter approach based on sampling theory and 2) a more commonly used fifth-order piecewise rational function. The hierarchical filter allows for dynamic estimates of localization functions and does not place any restrictions on their form. The rational function is optimized for every analysis time of day and for every possible observation and state variable combination. The methods are tested with a column model containing PBL and land surface parameterization schemes that are available in current mesoscale modeling systems. The results are expected to provide context for assimilation of near-surface observations in mesoscale models, which will benefit short-range mesoscale NWP applications. Results show that both the hierarchical and rational function approaches effectively improve covariance estimates from small ensembles. The hierarchical approach provides localization functions that are irregular and more closely related to PBL structure. Analysis of eigenvalue spectra show that both approaches improve the rank of the covariance matrices, but the amount of improvement is not always directly related to the assimilation performance. Results also show that specifying different localization functions for different observation and state variable combinations is more important than including time dependence.


1986 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Zapf-Gilje ◽  
S. O. Russell ◽  
D. S. Mavinic

When snow is made from sewage effluent, the impurities become concentrated in the early melt leaving the later runoff relatively pure. This could provide a low cost method of separating nutrients from secondary sewage effluent. Laboratory experiments showed that the degree of concentration was largely independent of the number of melt freeze cycles or initial concentration of impurity in the snow. The first 20% of melt removed with it 65% of the phosphorus and 90% of the nitrogen from snow made from sewage effluent; and over 90% of potassium chloride from snow made from potassium chloride solution. Field experiments with a salt solution confirmed the laboratory results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Cheng Zhang ◽  
Bin Shi ◽  
Song Zhang ◽  
Kai Gu ◽  
Su-Ping Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractVertical deformation profiles of subterranean geological formations are conventionally measured by borehole extensometry. Distributed strain sensing (DSS) paired with fiber-optic cables installed in the ground opens up possibilities for acquiring high-resolution static and quasistatic strain profiles of deforming strata, but it is currently limited by reduced data quality due to complicated patterns of interaction between the buried cables and their surroundings, especially in upper soil layers under low confining pressures. Extending recent DSS studies, we present an improved approach using microanchored fiber-optic cables—designed to optimize ground-to-cable coupling at the near surface—for strain determination along entire lengths of vertical boreholes. We proposed a novel criterion for soil–cable coupling evaluation based on the geotechnical bearing capacity theory. We applied this enhanced methodology to monitor groundwater-related vertical motions in both laboratory and field experiments. Corroborating extensometer recordings, acquired simultaneously, validated fiber optically determined displacements, suggesting microanchored DSS as an improved means for detecting and monitoring shallow subsurface strain profiles.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Alexander Potekaev ◽  
Liudmila Shamanaeva ◽  
Valentina Kulagina

Spatiotemporal dynamics of the atmospheric kinetic energy and its components caused by the ordered and turbulent motions of air masses are estimated from minisodar measurements of three velocity vector components and their variances within the lowest 5–200 m layer of the atmosphere, with a particular emphasis on the turbulent kinetic energy. The layered structure of the total atmospheric kinetic energy has been established. From the diurnal hourly dynamics of the altitude profiles of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) retrieved from minisodar data, four layers are established by the character of the altitude TKE dependence, namely, the near-ground layer, the surface layer, the layer with a linear TKE increase, and the transitive layer above. In the first layer, the most significant changes of the TKE were observed in the evening hours. In the second layer, no significant changes in the TKE values were observed. A linear increase in the TKE values with altitude was observed in the third layer. In the fourth layer, the TKE slightly increased with altitude and exhibited variations during the entire observation period. The altitudes of the upper boundaries of these layers depended on the time of day. The MKE values were much less than the corresponding TKE values, they did not exceed 50 m2/s2. From two to four MKE layers were distinguished based on the character of its altitude dependence. The two-layer structures were observed in the evening and at night (under conditions of the stable atmospheric boundary layer). In the morning and daytime, the four-layer MKE structures with intermediate layers of linear increase and subsequent decrease in the MKE values were observed. Our estimates demonstrated that the TKE contribution to the total atmospheric kinetic energy considerably (by a factor of 2.5–3) exceeded the corresponding MKE contribution.


Author(s):  
Christopher Pagano ◽  
Flavia Tauro ◽  
Salvatore Grimaldi ◽  
Maurizio Porfiri

Large scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) is a nonintrusive environmental monitoring methodology that allows for continuous characterization of surface flows in natural catchments. Despite its promise, the implementation of LSPIV in natural environments is limited to areas accessible to human operators. In this work, we propose a novel experimental configuration that allows for unsupervised LSPIV over large water bodies. Specifically, we design, develop, and characterize a lightweight, low cost, and stable quadricopter hosting a digital acquisition system. An active gimbal maintains the camera lens orthogonal to the water surface, thus preventing severe image distortions. Field experiments are performed to characterize the vehicle and assess the feasibility of the approach. We demonstrate that the quadricopter can hover above an area of 1×1m2 for 4–5 minutes with a payload of 500g. Further, LSPIV measurements on a natural stream confirm that the methodology can be reliably used for surface flow studies.


2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. LeMone ◽  
Fei Chen ◽  
Joseph G. Alfieri ◽  
Mukul Tewari ◽  
Bart Geerts ◽  
...  

Abstract Analyses of daytime fair-weather aircraft and surface-flux tower data from the May–June 2002 International H2O Project (IHOP_2002) and the April–May 1997 Cooperative Atmosphere Surface Exchange Study (CASES-97) are used to document the role of vegetation, soil moisture, and terrain in determining the horizontal variability of latent heat LE and sensible heat H along a 46-km flight track in southeast Kansas. Combining the two field experiments clearly reveals the strong influence of vegetation cover, with H maxima over sparse/dormant vegetation, and H minima over green vegetation; and, to a lesser extent, LE maxima over green vegetation, and LE minima over sparse/dormant vegetation. If the small number of cases is producing the correct trend, other effects of vegetation and the impact of soil moisture emerge through examining the slope ΔxyLE/ΔxyH for the best-fit straight line for plots of time-averaged LE as a function of time-averaged H over the area. Based on the surface energy balance, H + LE = Rnet − Gsfc, where Rnet is the net radiation and Gsfc is the flux into the soil; Rnet − Gsfc ∼ constant over the area implies an approximately −1 slope. Right after rainfall, H and LE vary too little horizontally to define a slope. After sufficient drying to produce enough horizontal variation to define a slope, a steep (∼−2) slope emerges. The slope becomes shallower and better defined with time as H and LE horizontal variability increases. Similarly, the slope becomes more negative with moister soils. In addition, the slope can change with time of day due to phase differences in H and LE. These trends are based on land surface model (LSM) runs and observations collected under nearly clear skies; the vegetation is unstressed for the days examined. LSM runs suggest terrain may also play a role, but observational support is weak.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.F. CIESLIK ◽  
R.A. VIDAL ◽  
A.B. MACHADO ◽  
M.M. TREZZI

ABSTRACT Grass weeds are common in summer crops and strongly decreases the grain yield of the common bean crop. The time of herbicide application influences the variability of environmental conditions and affects the product performance. The objectives of this work were to identify the time of fluazifop-p-butyl (fluazifop) application which gives best grass weed control in the common bean crop and to elucidate the environmental variables most important for the efficacy of this herbicide. Field experiments were conducted involving five application times (2 a.m., 6 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and five doses of fluazifop (80, 110, 140, 170 and 200 g ha-1), with additional no-herbicide control. At the time of the herbicide application it was determined the air temperature, relative humidity, the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the leaf angle, whereas the weed control and the dry mass of the weed Urochloa plantaginea was assessed at 20 days after treatment (DAT). Efficacy on grass control with fluazifop was dependent on the herbicide dose and on the time of day that the product was applied. Spray at early morning hours (6 a.m.) showed better efficacy on weed control in relation to periods during warmer conditions of the day (11 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Nocturnal fluazifop application had better weed control when compared to herbicide sprayed in the afternoon. The air temperature, relative humidity and PAR were correlated to weed leaf angle, which correlated the most with fluazifop performance.


Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 2853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikola Jovalekic ◽  
Vujo Drndarevic ◽  
Ermanno Pietrosemoli ◽  
Iain Zennaro

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) are gaining attention in both academia and industry by offering the possibility of connecting a large number of nodes over extended distances. LoRa is one of the technologies used as a physical layer in such networks. This paper investigates the LoRa links over seawater in two typical scenarios: clear Line-of-Sight (LOS) and obstructed path in two different Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) radio bands: 868 MHz and 434 MHz. We used three different LoRa devices in the experiments: the Own Developed LoRa Transceiver (ODT) and two commercial transceivers. Firstly we investigated transceivers’ Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and Signal-to-Noise (SNR) measurement chain linearity and provided correction factors for RSSI to correlate it with actual signal levels received at transceivers’ inputs. Next, we carried out field experiments for three different LoRa Spreading Factors, S F ∈ [ 7 , 10 , 12 ] , within a bandwidth of B W = 125 kHz and Coding Rate C R = 4 / 6 . The experiments showed that LoRa links are fully feasible over seawater at distances at least 22 km long, using only low-cost off-the-shelf rubber duck antennas in LOS path condition in both ISM bands. In addition, we showed that LoRa links can be established over 28 km obstructed LOS oversea path in ISM 434 MHz band, but using costly, higher gain antennas. Furthermore, the laboratory experiments revealed that RSSI is linear in a wide range, up to - 50 dBm, whereas the SNR measurement chain goes into saturation for Received Signal Strength (RSS) values higher than - 100 dBm. These findings enabled accurate interpretation of the results obtained in field experiments.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document