SPE6 Atmospheric Lidar Data User Guide
The Wind Cube v2 is a vertically-profiling, remote sensing instrument based on pulsed Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology that provideshigh quality wind measurements on par with an IEC calibrated meteorological mast. The instrument uses four radial laser beams (0, 90, 180, 270° in the azimuth, scan angle 28° from zenith) and one vertically (V) orientated beam to measure flow characteristics from 40 m up to 290 m above ground level at 12 user-programmable heights (Figure 1). Lidar creates a “virtual” meteorological tower whereby the characteristics of the wind in the lower part of the planetary boundary layer are sampled. It takes roughly 4 seconds to complete a full conical scan, followed by the 5thbeam (V) pointed in the vertical position. The underlying principle of pulsed lidar measurements of wind is the use of optical heterodyne (coherent) detection, in which laser pulses are transmitted into the atmosphere and scattered off of naturally-occurring small dust particles or aerosols entrained in the ambient flow field (Figure 2). Radial velocity is proportional to Doppler frequency shift. In simple to moderately complex terrain wind speed accuracy is 0.1 m/s, wind direction accuracy is 1.5°.