Assembly and Field Testing of a Ground-Based Presence-of-Cloud Detector

Abstract

A presence-of-cloud (POC) detector has been developed for use in remote locations. The principal components of the POC detector are a moisture-sensitive resistance grid, a heater, a fan, and housing with rain shielding. Field testing at a mountain site shows that the detector functions properly when compared with observations of surface clouds or fog and meteorological parameters measured over the same time period. Although heavy, driving rain may require enlargement of the rain shield, the POC detector appears to be a rugged, low-cost alternative to existing cloud detectors.