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Atmospheric Measurements

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Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

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Abstract

A selected group of common instruments used to measure the atmosphere is described in this chapter. Typical atmospheric measurements include winds, temperature, pressure, humidity, dew point, moisture, radiation, visibility, cloud heights, lightning, gaseous composition, aerosols, and precipitation. Atmospheric sensors may measure at a point (in space) or remotely (with a given distance from the volume of air being measured). As an example of a common wind sensor, sonic anemometers measure wind speed in two or three directions using differences in the propagation speed of sound in different directions across moving air. The surface heat budget, e.g., solar radiation, albedo, the Earthʼs long-wave radiation, heat fluxes into the soil, and latent/sensible heat fluxes are major forcing effects for atmospheric motions. Standard measurement methodologies are presented in Sect. 17.1.3. Some of the most frequently used measuring instruments for atmospheric dispersion are reviewed in Sect. 17.2. Major field experiments have recently used arrays of both bag samplers and fast response sensors to track the dispersion of plumes of trace gases in urban areas. Remote sensing instruments, both active and passive, are becoming increasingly available and robust. Remote sensing instruments may be ground-based or satellite based. While the flexibility and power of modern remote sensing instruments is impressive, there is frequently an inversion challenge associated with data interpretation.

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Abbreviations

DOE:

diffractive optical element

GEO:

geostationary Earth orbit

GIFTS:

geosynchronous imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer

GOES:

geostationary operational environmental satellites

GPS:

global positioning system

LES:

large-eddy simulation

PPI:

plan–position indicator

RASS:

radio acoustic sounding systems

RH:

relative humidity

RHI:

range–height indicator

SODAR:

sound detection and ranging

UV:

ultraviolet

References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Arizona State University, 85287-9809, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Harindra Fernando Prof.

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Riverside, Bourns Hall A315, 92521, Riverside, CA, USA

    Marko Princevac

  3. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 876106, 85287-6106, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Ronald Calhoun Prof.

Authors
  1. Harindra Fernando Prof.
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  2. Marko Princevac
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  3. Ronald Calhoun Prof.
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Harindra Fernando Prof. , Marko Princevac or Ronald Calhoun Prof. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fachgebiet Strömungslehre und Aerodynamik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstraße 30, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Cameron Tropea Dr.

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 842 W. Taylor St., 60607-7022, Chicago, IL, USA

    Alexander L. Yarin Dr.

  3. Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, A118 Engineering Research Complex, 48824-1326, East Lansing, MI, USA

    John F. Foss Dr.

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag

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Fernando, H., Princevac, M., Calhoun, R. (2007). Atmospheric Measurements. In: Tropea, C., Yarin, A.L., Foss, J.F. (eds) Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30299-5_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30299-5_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-25141-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-30299-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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