Precision and Relative Accuracy of a Phased Array Doppler Sodar

Abstract

We developed a phased array Doppler sodar and participated with the new sodar in the International Sodar Intercomparison Experiment (ISIE) at Boulder Atmospheric Observatory (BAO) in 1988. From the data obtained during this experiment, errors in wind measurement by the sodar were estimated by the method proposed for a microwave wind profiler by Strauch et al. The error in horizontal wind components was 0.35m/s at 75m and 0.60m/s at 300m when the mean wind speed was about 5m/s. The error is separated into random errors in radial velocity measurement of 0.29 and 0.47m/s at 75 and 300m, and errors caused by the assumption of uniform wind in the beam separation of 0.20 and 0.38m/s at 75 and 300m.