Boundary-Layer Meteorology

, Volume 8, Issue 3–4, pp 475–495 | Cite as

Development and use of the Gill UVW anemometer

  • Gerald C. Gill
Article

Abstract

A three-component anemometer, developed and refined during the past ten years, measures the three orthogonal wind-speed components directly along the instrument's three axes,X, Y, Z. The basic sensor for each of the three components is a light-weight helicoid propeller driving a tiny precision tachometer generator, which develops a D.C. voltage linearly proportional to the rate of turning of the propeller and reversing in polarity when the direction of rotation reverses. Each propeller turns at a rate almost linearly proportional to the instantaneous wind speed and the cosine of the angle subtended by the wind with the axis of the propeller. Propeller sensors have a starting speed of about 0.2 m s−1; a distance constant of about 1 m; and may be used in winds up to 30 m s−1. Over 500 of these instruments are now in use at research stations throughout the world.

Keywords

Wind Speed Research Station Distance Constant Basic Sensor Instantaneous Wind 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Copyright information

© D. Reidel Publishing Company 1975

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gerald C. Gill
    • 1
  1. 1.Dept. of Atmospheric and Oceanic ScienceThe University of MichiganAnn ArborUSA

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