Examples of SODAR applications and data

SODARs are an excellent tool for applications including atmospheric research, airport site evaluation, plume modelling, pollution monitoring and wind farm siting to name but a few. This page includes data examples and application examples.

• atmospheric research - a SODAR allows the user a better understanding of the boundary layer and any local effects of wind on meteorology. See examples on our sodar research page.

• airport site evaluation (including wing tip vortex studies, low level wind shear or other turbulent structure monitoring along the glide path or elsewhere on the airfield).
    
• plume modelling, flow dispersion, inversion levels or pollution monitoring are easily done with the graphic interface and imaging of the data from the SODAR.
    
• ballistic meteorology such as artillery.  This is far more cost effective than traditional radio-sonde flight releases during events and also allows a degree of independence as no consumables are required for continued operation.
    
• wind farm siting research (they can show the all important effects that turbulence structures will have on the blades of  turbines, as well as aiding in establishing the power curve output for different sites).
  
  SODARs can be calibrated for wind energy applications and have been accepted by accredited organisations such as RISO.   For further reading please see the 79 page report on SODAR calibration for wind energy applications published by the University of Salford. http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/res/vonhunerbein/WISE_WP3_pdf_version.pdf

APPLICATION EXAMPLES
	For air quality studies and inversion monitoring a small mobile SODAR PCS2000-24 and 1290 MHz RASS were used to make measurements in a park area near Rome in 2005. The small white box to the right houses the RASS components and controls, the SODAR box is of comparable size.  NB Boxes and trailer are available as an option.
	Installation of the larger SODAR PCS2000-64 and RASS at a power plant for routine monitoring of dispersion parameters.
	Installation of a SODAR PCS2000-64 and RASS at a power plant for routine monitoring of dispersion parameters. This was a difficult site inside a big industrial area with many fixed echo structures and significant noise levels. Data is available at about 300 m most of the time.
	Installation of the SODAR PCS2000-64 and RASS at a water treatment facility for routine monitoring of dispersion parameters.
	Comparison of a SODAR PCS2000-24 with a traditional met tower.

For use at remote sites there is a low power version for DC powered operation. This version can be supplied with weatherproof housing for the PC so that the whole SODAR system can be operated outdoors if required.