Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Mcdonald, C..
Measurements of solar shortwave irradiance and terrestrial infrared irradiance were made aboard the STRATCOM VIII-a balloon on 29 September 1977 for respective periods of 3-1/2 hours and 23 hours. In addition solar shortwave irradiance measurements were made on 29 and 30 September at ground level. The measurement objectives and results are described.
The wind anemometer is based on the use of bead thermistors exposed to the air flow and operated in a constant temperature mode. Matched thermistor pairs operating at different temperatures are used to eliminate the dependence on ambient temperature and pressure. Air density dependence is accounted for by the use of an enclosed reference pair of thermistors. At pressures lower than 10 mm Hz, the reference pair may serve as densitometer. Calibration is based on the measurement of the difference in thermistor power as a function of Reynolds number by varying wind speed and density.