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 ARLFRD Grid 3 Tall Tower Data Files Excluding Sonic Anemometers

In addition to the measurements made by the three 3-d sonic anemometers on the Grid 3 tall 
tower (GRI), ARLFRD also made measurements with the permanently installed instrumentation 
on GRI. GRI is 62.3 m in height. These other measurements are part of its function as a 
Mesonet station. These other measurements include wind speed and wind direction at 2, 10, 
15.3, 45.1, and 60 m heights using Met One cup anemometers (Model 010C) and vanes 
(Model 020C); aspirated air temperature and relative humidity at 1.5 m (Campbell Scientific, 
HMP45C); aspirated temperature at heights of 10.7, 14.9, and 59.6 m (Met One Inc., 076B); 
solar radiation (LI-COR, LI-200X); precipitation (Friez Engineering, 7405H); atmospheric 
pressure (Setra Systems, 270); and soil temperatures and moisture at 5 levels (5, 10, 20, 
50, 100 cm depths (Stevens Hydra Probe 2).


A detailed and comprehensive data quality assurance program is performed on all Mesonet 
stations, including GRI, on a routine basis. ARLFRD has adopted the guidelines in ANSI/ANS 
3.11 (2005) Determining Meteorological Information at Nuclear Facilities and ANSI/ANS 3.2 
(1994), Administrative Controls and Quality Assurance for the Operational Phase of Nuclear 
Power Plants for data quality control.  To help follow these guidelines, the quality 
assurance program uses an excellent set of software tools to display trended meteorological 
data.  This enhances the data quality evaluations and makes them more efficient. The quality 
control program consisted of both manual and automated processes.  Every 5-minute period for 
each parameter was plotted for missing or spiked data.  Data was also screened for electronic 
noise, non-working aspirators that affect air temperature and relative humidity values, 
orientation errors in the wind direction, stalled wind sensors, rime icing that degrade 
wind speeds, and other erroneous values caused by maintenance,  bird droppings, etc. 
Plotting the data allowed the meteorologist to identify and flag any of the problems in the 
database and, if needed, a technician is notified to quickly fix the problem. Calibrations 
of all instrumentation are completed on a semi-annual basis.

The GRI wind speed and direction data sets 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 study area, where available, at 2 m; at 10 m; at 30 m; at 
45 m; and at 60 m. These comparisons included the sonic anemometers, cup and vane anemometers 
at GRI and COC, 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 and COC were compared with sonic results 
at 3 m (R2, R3, and R4) and 4 m (G1) and 40 m sonic results for ASC and ART were compared to 
45 m anemometer results at GRI. Vertical comparisons were also made between the sonic 
anemometers at 4, 30, and 45 m with cup and vane anemometer results at 2, 10, 15, 45, and 
60 m on GRI.

There are five NOAA INL Mesonet files for GRI for PSB1 that provide the non-sonic 
anemometer data. Each file covers the 24-hour day encompassing the IOP test days (October 2, 
5, 7, 11, and 18). The filenames are ‘PSB1_GRI_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. year
2. month
3. day
4. hour (MST, end time of the 5-minute interval)
5. minute (end time of the 5-minute interval)
6. 2m Wind Speed [m/s]
7. 2m Wind Direction [deg]
8. 2SD, standard deviation wind direction at 2m [deg]
9. 10m Wind Speed [m/s]
10. 10m Wind Direction [deg]
11. 10SD, standard deviation wind direction at 10m [deg]
12. 15m Wind Speed [m/s]
13. 15m Wind Direction [deg]
14. 15SD, standard deviation wind direction at 15m [deg]
15. 45m Wind Speed [m/s]
16. 45m Wind Direction [deg]
17. 45SD, standard deviation wind direction at 45m [deg]
18. Top Wind Speed, wind speed at 60m [m/s]
19. Top Wind Direction, wind direction at 60m [deg]
20. TOPSD, standard deviation wind direction at 60m [deg]
21. 2m Temp C, air temperature at 1.5 m [deg C]
22. 10m Temp C, air temperature at 10.7 m [deg C]
23. 15m Temp C, air temperature at 14.9 m [deg C]
24. TopT C, air temperature at 59.6 m [deg C]
25. 2m RH%, relative humidity at 2 m [%]
26. Solar Rad, solar radiation [W/m^2]
27. BP, barometric pressure [in. Hg]
28. Rain [inches]

ADD SOIL TEMP AND MOISTURE!!
