Exciting article below about the advanced autonomous buoy off Plymouth, measuring key indicators for climate research. It’s being launched by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and is packed with sensors and we’re very pleased see our Gill WindSonic, ultrasonic wind speed and direction sensor amongst them.
# #scienceandenvironment #weatherdata #autonomousbuoy
Gill’s WindSonic chosen for tsunami detection buoys after tests prove it is the most reliable.
On 22nd September 2015, the Chilean Navy research vessel Cabo de Hornos departed from Valparaiso, Chile, loaded with two experimental 4th generation buoys known as DART-4G (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami) which feature Gill WindSonic ultrasonic wind sensors.
The deployment is part of a trial by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the Servicio Hidrografico y Oceanografico de la Armada de Chile (SHOA), to monitor the seismically active Chilean subduction zone.
Tsunami waves involve the movement of water all the way down to the sea floor, but the effects of wind-driven ocean waves are only seen near the surface. In order to distinguish a tsunami wave from wind generated waves, it is essential to have reliable wind measurements.
WindSonic was tested against alternatives and chosen because it was the only anemometer to remain operational in such extreme conditions. With its solid-state ultrasonic technology the WindSonic has a robust corrosion-free construction providing reliable operation for many harsh environmental conditions.
On September 16th 2015 a massive earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale hit some locations of the Chilean coast causing a 5 metre tsunami. The DART-4G instrument buoys can separate the seismic noise from the tsunami wave signal allowing forecasters to measure the tsunami wave as the earth is still shaking and greatly improve warning time. As NOAA’s Tsunami Program Director, Michael Angove, described, even an additional 20 minute warning is “an ‘eternity’ in terms of near-field tsunami forecasts where waves can begin inundating coastlines within 15-20 minutes (or less)”.
The NOAA/SHOA research partnership is the result of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by both organizations in June of 2015 and over the next 5 years, the DART-4G instrument buoys with WindSonic, will provide coverage for improved forecasts throughout the Pacific.
For more information on Gill’s range of ultrasonic anemometers contact +44(0)1590 613500.
Sources: US Chile Embassy, Tsunami Alarm Systems, NOAA, SHOA
Gill’s Ultrasonic Wind Speed and Direction sensor has been chosen to provide critical wind measurement data to avoid capsizing and stability issues on a motor yacht.
A captain of a 48m private motor yacht was concerned that whilst at anchor, if the wind speed and direction changed above a certain threshold the vessel would need to be manoeuvred to avoid stability problems.
The WindSonic wind sensor has been fitted within a VesselWatch integration system which alerts the crew’s radio system and sends a message to the captain in the event of a raised alarm.
With wind speed measurement up to 60m/s and 0-359° wind direction, Gill’s lightweight 2-axis anemometer is well suited to the marine application. The WindSonic is maintenance- free and benefits from solid-state technology, which removes the need for moving parts like traditional cup and vane sensors, to offer a true fit and forget installation.
“If the captain is not alerted and the wind speed and direction are within critical parameters the vessel can capsize or be forced into impacting its surroundings.” states Matt Wright from Globalview Systems, who supplied the WindSonic. “The crew use this data for their own operating procedures to minimise the risk to the vessel and crew.”
The WindSonic has been installed into a varied range of applications throughout the marine industry to provide valuable wind measurement.
Gill’s ultrasonic wind speed and direction sensor featured on the BBC’s daily TV programme, The One Show on Thursday 16th July 2015.
TheWindObserver which can measure wind speeds in excess of 200mph made its TV appearance during a feature on using ultrasonic technology to show how sound waves can be used to make measurements which are useful in real life situations. During the demonstration, Phil Bassindale from Bristol University used a hair dryer to simulate wind and showed presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones, how the WindObserver records changes in wind speed when wind is present. The changing wind speed was displayed via a touch screen display from Observator instruments.
Watch the episode on the BBC iPlayer until 17/08/2015
ABOUT ULTRASONIC WIND MEASUREMENT
WindObserver sensors use the ultrasonic time of flight principle to ascertain wind speed and direction.
Opposing sets of transducers alternately send and receive ultrasonic pulses to each other. In still air these pulses travel at the same speed.
The wind speed affects the send/receive pattern of the pulses. Pulses in the direction of air movement will reach the opposing transducer more rapidly, whilst pulses into the wind will be delayed. The stronger the prevailing wind, the more prominent the effect will be.
Gill Instruments will be exhibiting at the 95th AMS Annual Meeting from 4-8 January 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona.
At AMS Gill will announce improvements in sonic temperature performance made throughout their range of industry leading 3-axis anemometers.
Gill 3-axis anemometers consistently out-perform other sonic anemometers in the measurement of 3-dimensional wind vectors and sensible heat fluxes and now following recent improvements all Gill 3-axis anemometers can benefit from improved sonic temperature performance.
Gains are the result of research using computational fluid dynamics and changes to the transducer stalk assembly processes. However for continuity, the transducer and stalk profile remains the same and wind measurements are not impacted.
Richard McKay, Gill Product Manager and Meteorologist reports “the gains we have made using CFD and assembly process improvements are small yet significant in the performance of sonic temperature throughout the 3-axis range. A key advantage is that these improvements maintain the continuity of design and we now have high performance in all conditions”.
To demonstrate the technical improvements, Richard McKay will be delivering a poster presentation entitled ‘Improvements in cold weather condition flux measurements with Gill 3-Axis Ultrasonic Anemometers’ at AMS on Wednesday 7th January between 14:00 and 16:00.
In addition to Gill’s anemometers, Gill will be displaying MaxiMet, their new range of compact weather stations to suit multiple application requirements which combines precipitation, solar radiation, wind, temperature, humidity and pressure, GPS and compass measurements.
For more information visit Gill on stand 723 at AMS or contact +44(0)1590 613500.