Accuracy of Wind Velocity Determinations with Doppler Sodars

Abstract

The measurement of the radial wind velocity component in sodar systems is generally carried out by application of the first moment integral to the spectrum of the received echoes. In unfavorable signal-to-noise conditions this leads to a large systematic bias and lack of precision. In this paper the use of a two-step procedure is shown, whereby the spectrum of the echo is first localized and then the actual value of its center frequency is determined. Large improvements in accuracy and precision are thus obtained.