| Abstract: | Performance of a three-component monostatic Doppler sodar was compared with performance of collocated meteorological tower instruments and evaluated for electric utility applications. The sensors were components of an air pollution monitoring network that was upgraded to assess the impact of coal conversion on ambient air quality at Northeast Utilities' Mt. Tom Generating Station situated in rugged terrain in the Connecticut River valley of western Massachusetts. To determine how well sodar and tower measurements agree, and how reliable sodar is for this type of application, meteorological data and system performance statistics obtained from August 1982 through July 1983 were examined. A statistical comparison of wind speed and direction measurements at 50 m indicated good agreement between the two monitoring techniques. High correlations also were observed for data collected during various weather conditions. System reliability was demonstrated by data recovery rates and sodar vertical range capabilities. Monthly data recovery rates exceeded 90 percent and occasionally approached 98 percent after initial break-in problems were resolved. Sodar range was 100 m more than 95 percent of the time and 200 m more than 50 percent of the time. Under optimum conditions, the vertical range extended beyond 200 m. |
