Abstract
The measurement of scalar fluxes employing the eddy covariance method is a widely used experimental approach,for which the flow distortion due to obstacles (e.g., sensor mounts and mast)is a well-known but not fully solved problem. In order to reduce flow distortion we installed a sonic anemometer in a surface-normal orientationrelative to the terrain slope, and a second instrument in a verticalposition at a horizontal distance of 1.54 m from the first instrument
We found a significant reduction in the rotation angle necessary for the coordinaterotation procedure in the x-z plane whencomputing 30-minute flux averages with the surface-normal orientation. In 91% of all cases this rotation angleremained within the angle of incidence of ±10° recommended bythe manufacturer. In contrast, only 24% of the measurements taken with the vertically mounted anemometer were obtained at an angle of incidencewithin ±10°, and 3% were outside the ±30° range specified for an acceptable operation.
A data quality test based on the variance of vertical windspeed normalized with friction velocity (σw/u*) revealed problems for application under stable conditions due to large uncertainties in the determination of the Monin–Obukhov stability parameter z/L. An alternative test using the bulk drag coefficient CD revealed other problems related to the dependence of CD on z/z0, the measuring height normalized by the roughness length, which do not appear to be constantin complex terrain. With both tests, a tendency for a slightly improved dataquality was found for the surface normal set-up, which, however, proved statistically insignificant.
It is concluded that the surface-normal set-up of a sonic anemometer significantly reduces flow distortion by thesensor head. Although the surface-normal mounting position therefore appears to be the preferred one, with decreased flow distortion and a slightly improved data quality, no significant differences in turbulent quantities were found between the two set-uppositions. Hence, the consequences for short-term measurements of massand energy fluxes with a surface-normal set-up in complex terrain appearto be relevant only if single flux events are to be inspected, while for long-term measurements of integrated fluxes both the surface-normaland vertical installation of the sonic anemometer are adequate,indicating that eddy covariance measurements in complex terrain are lessdelicate than expected.
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Geissbühler, P., Siegwolf, R. & Eugster, W. Eddy Covariance Measurements On Mountain Slopes: The Advantage Of Surface-Normal Sensor Orientation Over A Vertical Set-Up. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 96, 371–392 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002660521017
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1002660521017