Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower

Turbulence measurements conducted by means of Solent Gill ultrasonic anemometers at several altitudes on the 200 m tower at the Research Center Karlsruhe showed white noise behaviour at the high-frequency end of the spectra with increasing measurement height. In a number of data sets with a time res...

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Main Authors: Christian Barthlott, Norbert Kalthoff, Franz Fiedler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Borntraeger 2003-04-01
Series:Meteorologische Zeitschrift
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2003/0012-0067
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author Christian Barthlott
Norbert Kalthoff
Franz Fiedler
author_facet Christian Barthlott
Norbert Kalthoff
Franz Fiedler
author_sort Christian Barthlott
collection DOAJ
description Turbulence measurements conducted by means of Solent Gill ultrasonic anemometers at several altitudes on the 200 m tower at the Research Center Karlsruhe showed white noise behaviour at the high-frequency end of the spectra with increasing measurement height. In a number of data sets with a time resolution of 48 ms, the computed power spectra of the velocity components and temperature converge into white noise and the decline in the inertial subrange expected theoretically is hidden. The noise covers a broad range of the spectrum, which greatly increases variance and makes further data analysis difficult. The cause of this parasitic noise is found in high-frequency radiation from regional longwave transmitters in the frequency range of 150 to 200 kHz, which interferes with the transducer crystals. The resonance frequency of the transducer crystals is 180 kHz. It is found that a thin, grounded mesh wire around the sensor head acts like a Faradays cage, protecting the transducers from the radiation. Negative side effects, like eddy production from the cage or a modified mean wind speed can be excluded from results gained by different ultrasonic anemometers, operated simultaneously close to the ground. The mesh wire shield thus is a permanent solution to these problems in case of longwave transmitters surrounding the measurement site.
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spelling doaj.art-4773a0bd92384bd58c1e69a371e47bdd2024-02-08T08:40:12ZengBorntraegerMeteorologische Zeitschrift0941-29482003-04-01122677110.1127/0941-2948/2003/0012-006752267Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m towerChristian BarthlottNorbert KalthoffFranz FiedlerTurbulence measurements conducted by means of Solent Gill ultrasonic anemometers at several altitudes on the 200 m tower at the Research Center Karlsruhe showed white noise behaviour at the high-frequency end of the spectra with increasing measurement height. In a number of data sets with a time resolution of 48 ms, the computed power spectra of the velocity components and temperature converge into white noise and the decline in the inertial subrange expected theoretically is hidden. The noise covers a broad range of the spectrum, which greatly increases variance and makes further data analysis difficult. The cause of this parasitic noise is found in high-frequency radiation from regional longwave transmitters in the frequency range of 150 to 200 kHz, which interferes with the transducer crystals. The resonance frequency of the transducer crystals is 180 kHz. It is found that a thin, grounded mesh wire around the sensor head acts like a Faradays cage, protecting the transducers from the radiation. Negative side effects, like eddy production from the cage or a modified mean wind speed can be excluded from results gained by different ultrasonic anemometers, operated simultaneously close to the ground. The mesh wire shield thus is a permanent solution to these problems in case of longwave transmitters surrounding the measurement site.http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2003/0012-0067
spellingShingle Christian Barthlott
Norbert Kalthoff
Franz Fiedler
Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
Meteorologische Zeitschrift
title Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
title_full Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
title_fullStr Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
title_full_unstemmed Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
title_short Influence of high-frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
title_sort influence of high frequency radiation on turbulence measurements on a 200 m tower
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2003/0012-0067
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