May 15, 2014

POINT OF CONTACT

Principle investigator:
     Kirk L. Clawson
     NOAA Air Resources Laboratory Field Research Division
     1750 Foote Dr.
     Idaho Falls, ID 83402
     Kirk.Clawson@noaa.gov
     (208) 526-2742

README.TXT - Description of Data Files from Meteorological Towers Located within the 
Tracer Sampling Array

Measurements were made at two meteorological towers located within the tracer sampling 
array during PSB1. One was a 30 m open lattice aluminum meteorological tower purchased 
from Triex (model T-15) and located at approximately 499 m arc distance and 60 degrees arc 
angle during PSB1. This tower was linked to the command center (COC). Met One Instruments 
Inc., cup anemometers (Model 010C) and vanes (Model 020C) were used to measure the wind 
speed and direction at 2, 10, and 30 m heights. These anemometers were maintained and 
calibrated to the same standards as the Grid 3 Mesonet tower (GRI).

A 10 m open lattice aluminum meteorological tower was located near the center of the 3200 
m arc at about 44.5 degrees arc angle (designated TOW). Met One Instruments Inc., cup 
anemometers (Model 010C) and vanes (Model 020C) were used to measure the wind speed and 
direction at 2 and 10 m heights. This tower was collocated with the R2 sonic and the ART 
VT-1 sodar. Power was supplied to the batteries servicing the R2 sonic, the ART VT-1 sodar, 
and TOW using a large trailer-mounted solar panel array. This solar array experienced 
problems in providing adequate charge to the batteries at all times during the experimental 
period and had largely failed by the end of the experiment resulting in data loss for IOPs4 
and 5 at TOW.

Data from the towers was collected on a Campbell Scientific CR23X data logger and recorded 
in 5-minute averages. One-second averages from the COC tower were transferred by direct 
line back to the command center during tests where the project manager was able to monitor 
the current winds from a graphical display on a computer. This information was used to advise 
the TGA operators where to expect the tracer along the grid sampling arcs and to assist with 
positioning.

The wind speed and direction data sets for the COC and TOW towers were plotted and reviewed 
by the data analyst for consistency and accuracy by comparing results with other measurements 
for the duration of each test plus one hour before and after each test.  This included all 
wind speed and direction measurements in the horizontal at 2, 10, and 30 m, where available.
These comparisons included the sonic anemometers and cup and vane anemometers at GRI, and 
the ASC and ART sodars. In some cases heights were compared if they were close. For example, 
2 m cup and vane results at GRI, COC, and TOW were compared with sonic results at 3 m (R2, 
R3, and R4) and 4 m (G1). 

There are five COC files in the final PSB1 project database. Each covers the 24-hour day 
encompassing the IOP test days (October 2, 5, 7, 11, and 18). The filenames are 
‘PSB1_COC_IOP#.csv’ where ‘#’ specifies the number of the IOP. The time listed for each 
record is the end time for the 5-minute period. All times are MST. Missing values are 
indicated by ‘-999’. The column headers are:
                              
1. Date and Time (MST) [MM/DD/YYYY HR:MN] where HR:MN is hour and minute at the end of 
the 5-minute period
2. Sequential record number
3. Battery voltage minimum
4. Battery voltage maximum
5. Wind speed at 2 m [m+1 s-1]
6. Wind direction at 2 m [degrees]
7. Wind direction at 2 m, standard deviation [degrees]
8. Wind speed at 10 m [m+1 s-1]
9. Wind direction at 10 m [degrees]
10. Wind direction at 10 m, standard deviation [degrees]
11. Wind speed at 30 m [m+1 s-1]
12. Wind direction at 30 m [degrees]
13. Wind direction at 30 m, standard deviation [degrees]
14. Wind speed gust at 2 m, maximum [m+1 s-1]
15. Wind speed gust at 10 m, maximum [m+1 s-1]
16. Wind speed gust at 30 m, maximum [m+1 s-1]

There are three TOW files in the final PSB1 project database. Each covers the 24-hour 
day encompassing IOP test days (October 2, 5, and 7). The filenames are ‘PSB1_TOW_IOP#.csv’ 
where ‘#’ specifies the number of the IOP. The time listed for each record is the end time 
for the 5-minute period. All times are MST. Missing values are indicated by ‘-999’. The 
column headers are:
                              
1. Date and Time (MST) [MM/DD/YYYY HR:MN] where HR:MN is hour and minute at the end of 
the 5-minute period
2. Sequential record number
3. Battery voltage minimum
4. Battery voltage maximum
5. Wind speed at 2 m [m+1 s-1]
6. Wind direction at 2 m [degrees]
7. Wind direction at 2 m, standard deviation [degrees]
8. Wind speed at 10 m [m+1 s-1]
9. Wind direction at 10 m [degrees]
10. Wind direction at 10 m, standard deviation [degrees]
11. Wind speed gust at 2 m, maximum [m+1 s-1]
12. Wind speed gust at 10 m, maximum [m+1 s-1]
