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Wind

Wind is caused by differences in air density or pressure. Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. The greater the pressure difference, the stronger the wind. Wind drives daily changes in weather, causing clouds and moisture to move across the Earth’s surface.

Meteorologists use wind in conjunction with barometric pressure to create weather forecasts, and wind measurements are of particular importance to mariners and aviators. Scientists study the affect of wind on circulation, upwelling, and how it may interact with currents to drive climate change.

Wind speed and direction are measured with an anemometer.

Instrument Type: RM Young 05103 Wind Monitor

Description: 4-blade helicoid propeller and wind vane

Location: 10 m tower atop Laboratory South Wing (total height 20 m)
Latitude 38° 19' 03.35" N
Longitude 123° 04' 17.20" W

Installed: 1 May 2001

Specifications: Wind Speed
Range: 0 to 134 mph (0 to 60 m/s)
Accuracy: 0.6 mph ( 0.3 m/s)
Propeller Distance Constant: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Starting Threshold: 2.2 mph (1 m/s)

Specifications: Wind Direction
Range: 0 to 355 degrees
Accuracy: 3 degrees
Dead Band: 5 degree (355 to 360 degrees)
Delay Distance: 1.3 m (4.3 ft)
Starting Threshold: 2.4 mph (1.1 m/s)

Acquisition Settings:
3 second running average
Mean value logged every 1 second

Sensor Calibration and Quality Assurance Procedures

Equipment:

• RM Young 05103 Wind Monitor
• NOAA Wind Monitor

Procedure:
NOAA has a suite of meteorological sensors established at the Bodega Marine Reserve.  Data from these sensors can be downloaded from the internet at http://www.etl.noaa.gov/et7/data/archive/UneditedActive/.
These data are used for sensor comparison by downloading a data set from an entire day.  Data are imported into Matlab, where values are converted into the same units as those logged by the BML sensor.

Since NOAA data are logged at two minute intervals, BML data are also selected at two minute increments, but data are not averaged to determine the two minute mean of the 10 second data points.  They are simply instantaneous values recorded every two minutes.

The two independent data sets are compared graphically in Matlab to look for general agreement.  Any gross differences are investigated further.

Sample Wind Comparisons

Wind Speed Daily and Hourly Averages by Year (1988-2008)

Wind Direction Daily and Hourly Averages by Year (1988-2008)

Data Query