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The Challenges for an operational wind profiler. Remote and unattended

Tim Oakley

TECO-05 Bucharest, 4th -7th May 2005

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Plan

Background Why?

InstallationHow?

Problems & Solutions

Current Status Was it a success?

Future Challenges

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Network 2000

8 ‘Core’ stations, manned 24/7

Met Office proposed to close Stornoway.

Replace with a wind-profiler

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Wind Profiler Specification & location

Either 440-450 or 50 - 65 MHz.

Winds 1 - 12km (90%) Height Resolution 150m – 500m Temporal Res. 30min → 10min Random Error ≤ 2ms-1 (Absolute

error tested against Radiosondes)

Lifetime 10 years, harsh environment. 1 visit per 6 months.

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Chosen System

Competitive tender.

Vaisala system with antenna from ATRAD(Australia)

64MHz

144 Yagi array

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Location of antenna

Open sea to west

Internal loch

South Uist Site

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Site Works – Jan 2003

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Site Works – Feb 2003 (end)

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64 MHz wind profiler.

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Antenna fed from six transmitters

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Transmitters Processing electronics+ beam switching +transmit/receive switches

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Installation Overview

Work Services complete – March 2003

Antenna Installation – March 2003 (end)Communication link installed – April 2003

Electronics installed – May 2003

First transmission – 9th May 2003

(Project started – October 2000)

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Problems & Solutions.

‘Bleed through’ on T-R SwitchPolar Mesosphere Summer Echo's (PMSE)Interfering signals

-Internal Oscillators-Comms. Cable-External?

Air ConditioningIT Security ‘Memory leak’? ( on Internet Explorer)Remote MonitoringUnique system – learning curve for all

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Bleed through (High Mode only).

Solution – Hardware solution not found.

Software revision to remove gates around zero.

Manufacturer (ATRAD) working on a hardware solution

Atmospheric signal

Interference (bleed through)

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PMSE Echo’s

Solution – Change Configuration File

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Interfering signal

Changed oscillators. Shielded/rerouted cables

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Interfering signal

Internal/External signal?

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Solution? - MPP Signal Processing

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GraphXM plot (Classic)

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GraphXM plot (MPP)

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Problems & Solutions.

Air Conditioning Reset to off after power cut.Unit reconfigured.

IT Security Virus hit system Dec 03.Software ‘hardened’.

‘Memory leak’? Monitored.Don’t leave IE running.

Remote Monitoring Installed WebCam.Developing new

techniques. Working with Vaisala.

Unique system Solutions take longer!

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South Uist 64MHzCurrent Status

• Final system acceptance test July 04

• Data being assimilated by UK NWP

• Hand over to operations 30th Sept 04

•Operational configuration:- 4 beams (no vertical)- 2 modes, every 30mins- MPP algorithm- Opposing beam check

•

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Current 24 hour wind data

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Acceptance test – Flight 1

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Acceptance test – Flight 11

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Current Upper-Air Network 2004

2 Manned Radiosonde Sites

4 Autosonde Sites

Supplementary Radiosonde sites, ascents as required

5 Wind-Profiler Sites

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Summary & Future Challenges.

Wind profilers – proven record for reliability and unattended operations. Systems accepted for operational use around the globe.

However we need more work/development in the following areas:

Remote monitoring – Early identification of system failures/degradation

Quality Evaluation – Improved data quality & training for operational network managers to identify problems.

High Resolution data – Use of this data both for nowcasting & system validation. Integration – Using wind profilers with other remote sensing systems. IT development – IT ( signal processing, security, communications) is a fundamental

part of these systems.

Sustainability – Work with industry to ensure the continued support & availability of these systems. Plus development of the next generation.

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Advert:(1) Poster by Herb Winston, et al – Quantitative

assessment of improved spectral moments selection algorithm on an operational 64 MHz clear-

air doppler wind profiler

(2) Quality management of a European wind profiler network (CWINDE) – Saturday!

Questions