Comparative Assessments of the Crosswind Speed from Optical and Acoustic Measurements in the Surface Air Layer

Abstract

A passive optical method for measurements of the average crosswind speed on the atmospheric path has been developed. The crosswind speed estimation is based on the correlation algorithm for measuring fluctuations of the energy centroids of images of topographic objects under natural daylight. Test results of a windspeed- meter prototype, constructed based on this principle, are described. The wind velocity assessments recorded by this passive optical meter and an acoustic weather station are compared. The optimal time of accumulation of the cross-correlation function is estimated, which ensures stable real-time wind measurements.