1. An Inexpensive, Rapid Response System for Wind Profile Assessment, particularly for Shear Layer Determination and Wind Turbine Location Tom Wilkerson, Bill Bradford, Alan Marchant, Cordell Wright, Tom Apedaile, Eve Day, Allen Howard, and Tom Naini Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University 1695 North Research Park Way North Logan, UT 84341-1947 presentation for Lidar Working Group Meeting Destin, FL January 26-30, 2009 Research support by USDA and USTAR /CASI program (Center for Advanced Sensing and Imaging, Utah Science Technology and Research)

2. An Inexpensive, Rapid Response System for Wind Profile Assessment, particularly for Shear Layer Determination and Wind Turbine Location A rough-and-ready experiment using available components Goal: Explore feasibility of new, important measurement Prospect of real success if refined ? Goal: Define pathway to more useful results Assess value for larger scientific community Philosophy of original experiment: DIE-HAV-A-COW (“Does It Even Have A Chance Of Working ?”) Conclusion: Yes

3. OUTLINE & SUMMARY What: Low altitude wind profiles measured with balloon tracking How: Laser Range Finder keyed to Elevation/Azimuth/Time records Why: Atmospheric transport (USDA aerosol LIDAR project) Calibration of other wind sensors Wind prospecting: Turbine life vs. wind variability & shear (  200 m) Basis:Small balloons respond rapidly to wind, free of oscillation effects Prototype experiment easy to set up and operate Clear path to greater automation & better data Results:Trajectories to 600m range, 450m altitude (initially) Ranges to 1600m with better laser Nighttime tracking (initially 400m range with single LED) Method ideal for probing at heights essential for wind turbines Method easily probes 3D horizontal wind vector field Data:Low speed winds ≤ 4m/s Prominent layers of different wind speed and direction Diurnal wind change patterns SODAR tests Next:Much improved time resolution and data simultaneity Stronger winds, day-vs.-night, & terrain Field trials with other sensors (LIDAR, SODAR)

4. Micro-retroreflectors & Mounting on Balloons (A. Marchant) Nikon rangefinder & Total Station surveyor (W. Bradford) W. Bradford

5. Flight #6 Typical 3D trajectory, October 28, 2009: Motion SE first, then NW

6. Flight #8 Details of flight, October 30, 2009: Encounters strong vertical air motion

7. All Flights, October 28, 2009

8. All Flights, October 30, 2009

9. Oct. 28 (# 6) Oct. 30 (# 10) SODAR/Balloon Comparison Cases : Direction Polars Disagreement striking above 200 mAgreement OK above 300 m where V high

10. Oct. 28 Oct. 30 Similar Wind Patterns for Two Days in Cache Valley, UT X-Y PositionDirection Polar At higher altitudes, the Early- PM down-valley flow reverses to up-valley flow by the evening

11. OUTLINE & SUMMARY What: Low altitude wind profiles measured with balloon tracking How: Laser Range Finder keyed to Elevation/Azimuth/Time records Why: Atmospheric transport (USDA aerosol LIDAR project) Calibration of other wind sensors Wind prospecting: Turbine life vs. wind variability & shear (  200 m) Basis:Small balloons respond rapidly to wind, free of oscillation effects Prototype experiment easy to set up and operate Clear path to greater automation & better data Results:Trajectories to 600m range, 450m altitude (initially) Ranges to 1600m with better laser Nighttime tracking (initially 400m range with single LED) Method ideal for probing at heights essential for wind turbines Method easily probes 3D horizontal wind vector field Data:Low speed winds ≤ 4m/s Prominent layers of different wind speed and direction Diurnal wind change patterns SODAR tests Next:Much improved time resolution and data simultaneity Stronger winds, day-vs.-night, & terrain Field trials with other sensors (LIDAR, SODAR)