PARAMETROS PARA CANARY BY QUEST

Height of Wind Measurements Above

Ground
Due to surface drag, even over seemingly smooth surfaces laminar wind
speed decreases to near Zero at the surface of the earth. In fact wind
speed on a flat grassy surface under normal non turbulent wind
conditions the wind speed can be seen to increase logarithmically with
height above the surface. In flat grassy areas (with low grass height) at
standard temperature this change in wind speed as a function of height
can be approximated using the formula: V= Vref(H/Href)0.142 and shown
in the below.
Figure 2.5 Wind Speed as a Function of Height above Ground

Note: According to one Canadian Study by the CNRC the exponent used
above 0.142 should be changed to 0.333 over rough terrain and wooded
areas or outskirts of towns and to 0.5 over cities.
As can be seen on this chart wind speed of 12 knots measured at 5
meters above the ground will be 13.3 knots 10 meters above the ground

and 8.2 knots 1 meter above the ground due to surface friction creating a
boundary layer of air near the surface of the earth.
The international standard height for wind measuring instruments is 10
meters (32.8 feet) above ground level. Wind instruments sited at lower
heights can be corrected for surface friction to a 10 meter equivalent
measurement (providing there is no surface induced turbulence) using the
equations similar to the above calculation or sited higher than 10 meters
and corrected to the lower speed that would be measured at 10 meters.
This effect is considered negligible above 300 meters in most terrain.
Keep in mind that differences in surface roughness and temperature will
require modification of this calculation to more precisely correct wind
speed for height above the earths surface.
Now you know why it seems warmer when you lay down close to the
ground on a cold windy winter day.
Point to Ponder: Why are airport wind socks at 16 feet above the ground
and airport anemometers at 33 feet above ground level?
3.2.1 Wind Speed and Wind Direction
3.2.1.1 Probe placement
The standard exposure height of wind instruments over level, open terrain is 10 m above the
ground [9]. Open terrain is defined as an area where the distance between the instrument and
any obstruction is at least ten times the height of that obstruction [2, 4, 9]. The slope of the
terrain in the vicinity of the site should be taken into account when determining the relative
height of the obstruction [2]. An obstruction may be man-made (such as a building or stack) or
natural (such as a hill or a tree). The sensor height, its height above obstructions, and the
height/character of nearby obstructions should be documented. Where such an exposure cannot
be obtained, the anemometer should be installed at such a height that it is reasonably
unaffected by local obstructions and represents the approximate wind values that would occur at
10 m in the absence of the obstructions. This height, which depends on the extent, height, and
distance of obstructions and on site availability, should be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Additional guidance on the evaluation of vertical profiles (Section 6.1.3) and surface roughness
(Section 6.4.2) may be helpful in determining the appropriate height.

If the source emission point is substantially above 10 m, then additional wind measurements
should be made at stack top or 100 m, whichever is lower [1]. In cases with stack heights of
200 m or above, the appropriate measurement height should be determined by the Regional
Office on a case-by-case basis. Because maximum practical tower heights are on the order of
100 m, wind data at heights greater than 100 m will most likely be determined by some other
means. Elevated wind measurements can be obtained via remote sensing (see Section 9.0).
Indirect values can be estimated by using a logarithmic wind-speed profile relationship. For this
purpose, instruments should be located at multiple heights (at least three) so that site-specific
wind profiles can be developed.
3.2.1.2 Obstructions
Buildings. Aerodynamic effects due to buildings and other major structures, such as cooling
towers, should be avoided to the extent possible in the siting of wind sensors; such effects are
significant, not only in the vicinity of the structures themselves, but at considerable distances
downwind. Procedures for assessing aerodynamic effects have been developed from observing
such effects in wind tunnels [13], [14]. Wind sensors should only be located on building
rooftops as a last resort; in such cases, the sensors should be located at a sufficient height
above the rooftop to avoid the aerodynamic wake. This height can be determined from on-site
measurements (e.g., smoke releases) or wind tunnel studies. As a rule of thumb, he total depth
of the building wake is estimated to be approximately 2.5 times the height of the building [1]
Trees. In addition to the general rules concerning obstructions noted above, additional
considerations may be important for vegetative features (e.g., growth rates). Seasonal effects
should also be considered for sites near deciduous trees. For dense, continuous forests where an
open exposure cannot be obtained, measurements should be taken at 10m above the height of
the general vegetative canopy.
Towers. Sensors mounted on towers are frequently used to collect wind speed measurements
at more than one height. To avoid the influence of the structure itself, closed towers, stacks,
cooling towers, and similar solid structures should not be used to support wind instruments.
Open-lattice towers are preferred. Towers should be located at or close to plant elevation in an
open area representative of the area of interest.
Wind instruments should be mounted on booms at a distance of at least twice the
diameter/diagonal of the tower (from the nearest point on the tower) into the prevailing wind
direction or wind direction of interest [2]. Where the wind distribution is strongly bimodal from
opposite directions, such as in the case of up-valley and down-valley flows, then the booms
should be at right angles to the predominant wind directions. The booms must be strong enough
so that they will not sway or vibrate sufficiently to influence standard deviation values in strong
winds. Folding or collapsible towers are not recommended since they may not provide sufficient
support to prevent such vibrations, and also may not be rigid enough to ensure proper
instrument orientation. The wind sensors should be located at heights of minimum tower density
(i.e., minimum number of diagonal cross-members) and above/below horizontal crossmembers [2]. Since practical considerations may limit the maximum boom length, wind sensors
on large towers (e.g., TV towers and fire look-out towers) may only provide accurate
measurements over a certain arc. In such cases, two systems on opposite sides of the tower
may be needed to provide accurate measurements over the entire 360. If such a dual system is
used, the method of switching from one system to the other should be carefully specified. A wind
instrument mounted on top of a tower should be mounted at least one tower diameter/diagonal
above the top of the tower structure.

Surface roughness.
The surface roughness over a given area reflects man-made and natural obstructions, and
general surface features. These roughness elements effect the horizontal and vertical wind
patterns. Differences in the surface roughness over the area of interest can create differences in
the wind pattern that may necessitate additional measurement sites. A method of estimating
surface roughness length, zo , is presented in Section 6.4.2. If an area has a surface roughness
length greater than 0.5 m, then there may be a need for special siting considerations (see
discussion in Sections 3.3 and 3.5).
3.2.1.3 Siting considerations
A single well-located measurement site can be used to provide representative wind
measurements for non-coastal, flat terrain, rural situations. Wind instruments should be placed
taking into account the purpose of the measurements. The instruments should be located over
level, open terrain at a height of 10 m above the ground, and at a distance of at least ten times
theheight of any nearby obstruction. For elevated releases, additional measurements should be
made at stack top or 100 m, whichever is lower [1]. In cases with stack heights of 200 m or
above, the appropriate measurement height should be determined by the Regional Office on a
case-by-case basis.
3. SITING AND EXPOSURE
3.1 Representativeness
3.1.1 Objectives for Siting
3.1.2 Factors to Consider
3.2 Simple Terrain Locations
3.2.1 Speed and Wind Direction
3.2.2 Temperature, Temperature Difference, and Humidity
3.2.3 Precipitation
3.2.4 Pressure
3.2.5 Radiation
3.3 Complex Terrain Locations
3.3.1 Wind Speed
3.3.2 Wind Direction
3.3.3 Temperature Difference
3.4 Coastal Locations
3.5 Urban Locations
3.6 Recommendations

http://www.webmet.com/met_monitoring/321.html

Pasquill Stability Classes

A: Extremely unstable conditions

D: Neutral conditions

B: Moderately unstable conditions

E: Slightly stable conditions

C: Slightly unstable conditions

F: Moderately stable conditions

G: Extremely Stable

Meteorological conditions defining Pasquill stability classes.

Daytime insolation

Night-time conditions

Surface wind speed

(m/s)

Stron
g

Moderat
e

Sligh
t

Thin overcast or > 4/8

low cloud

<= 4/8
cloudiness

<2

A-B

2-3

A-B

3-5

B-C

5-6

C-D

>6

Source: Pasquill, 1961.

NOTES:
1. Strong insolation corresponds to sunny midday in midsummer in England; slight insolation to
similar conditions in midwinter.
2. Night refers to the period from 1 hour before sunset to 1 hour after sunrise.
3. The neutral category D should also be used, regardless of wind speed, for overcast conditions
during day or night and for any sky conditions during the hour preceding or following night as
defined above.

PG classes for fluctuations in wind direction and the vertical temperature

gradient.
Pasquill Class

Sigma Theta (degrees)

Delta T/Delta Z (Deg C/100 m)

25

-1.9

20

-1.9 to -1.7

15

-1.7 to -1.5

10

-1.5 to -0.5

-0.5 to 1.5

2.5

1.5 to 4.0

1.7

>4.0

so the gas will not mix as quickly with the surrounding atmosphere. Stability F generally occurs
during the
early morning hours before sunrise (no solar radiation) and under low winds. This combination
allows for
an atmosphere which appears calm or still and thus restricts the ability to actively mix with the
released gas.
Relative humidity
This is the ambient relative humidity at the time of release.
Air temperature
This is the ambient air temperature at the time of release.
Spill surface temperature
This is the temperature of the surface near the point of release.
Spill surface
Choose the surface type that best describes the spill surface at the release location.
Wave height
This variable describes the peak-to-valley height of the waves present during a spill onto water.
Larger wave
heights limit the spread of the pool. Wave heights are roughly a function of the wind speed, but do
depend
on site-specific factors, such as water depth or currents.
Surrounding terrain (Zr)

Choose the terrain that best describes the area surrounding the release location. Each choice is
directly tied
to a specific value of surface roughness.
Surrounding surface roughness
This is a measure of the uniform roughness of the surface over which a dispersing cloud travels. In
general,
higher roughness results in enhanced mixing. A rule of thumb for surface roughness is to use 1/10 of
the
average obstacle size in the dispersion path. Choosing the user defined option in the Surrounding
terrain
(Zr) pull-down list allows the use of a specific surface roughness value (in meters) to be used in the
dispersion
calculations.