AS 2923—1987

Australian Standard
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AMBIENT AIR—
GUIDE FOR MEASUREMENT OF
HORIZONTAL WIND FOR AIR
QUALITY APPLICATIONS
 This Australian standard was prepared by Committee CH/19, Methods for Examination
of Air. It was approved on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association of
Australia on 27 February 1987 and published on 6 April 1987.

The following interests are represented on Committee CH/19:

Aluminium Development Council
Australian Chemical Industry Council
Australian Institute of Petroleum
Australian Mining Industry Council
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Australian Timber Producers Council

Clean Air Society of Australia and new Zealand
Confederation of Australian Industry
CSIRO, Division of Fossil Fuels
Department of Arts, Heritage and Environment
Department of Conservation and Environment, W.A.
Department of Environment and Planning, S.A.
Department of Environment, Tasmania
Department of Science
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Environment Protection Authority of Victoria
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
National Health and Medical Research Council
State Pollution Control Commission, N.S.W.

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This standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 86006.

 AS 2923—1987

Australian Standard
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

AMBIENT AIR—
GUIDE FOR MEASUREMENT OF
HORIZONTAL WIND FOR AIR
QUALITY APPLICATIONS

First publi shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1987

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 4556 9
 AS 2923—1987 2

PREFACE
This standard was prepared by the Association’s Committee on Methods for
Examination of Air under the direction of the Chemical Standards Board at the request
of Federal and State Government bodies and industries involved in the analysis of
ambient air. This standard was prepared as a guide for collecting meteorological data
associated with the sampling of ambient air.
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CONTENTS
Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . ... . 3
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . ... . . .. .. 4
2 APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . .. .. . .. .. 4
3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . ... . .... 4
4 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . ... . 4
5 PRINCIPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . . ... 4
6 APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . ... . 5
7 CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . . ... . 7
8 SITING AND INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . ... . . .... 8
9 COMMISSIONING AND OPERATING RESULTS .... . . ... . . ... 12
10 RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . .... 12
11 ERRORS IN WIND MEASUREMENT . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. 13
12 REPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . .... 14
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... . .... . .. .. 15

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 3 AS 2923—1987

FOREWORD
Air quality is influenced by emission of pollutants from various sources and
meteorological parameters which determine their dispersion and transport. Of the
meteorological parameters, wind speed and direction are typically the largest sources
of the variability in air quality monitoring data. Therefore wind speed and direction are
important parameters in any air monitoring program.
In designing and planning a wind measurement project and in using wind data
consideration has to be given to error sources leading to questionable or poor quality
data, and to the purpose of wind measurements.
Anemometers vary considerably in sensitivity, ruggedness, accuracy and form of
output. The choice of instrument for a particular measurement program will depend on
the need for accurate measurements in special speed ranges, duration of program
requirement for accuracy and traceability, and data processing facilities. Anemometers,
if well made, are very reliable, and they may be operated with minimal maintenance
or calibration. However, to ensure confidence in the data, there must be a recorded
maintenance and calibration schedule, which may range from occasional inspection to
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a regular wind-tunnel calibration.

Although the measurement system may function satisfactorily when initially set up,
deterioration in instrument performance can occur. Common problems include sensor
wear or damage, span and zero drift in recorders, dislodged cables, and malfunctions
during and after rain. A routine performance monitoring program is required to identify
such problems before serious data losses occur. Ideally, this should include
recalibration, which often requires sophisticated equipment. However, some checks can
be made with simple equipment if full calibration checks cannot be made.
Instrument siting is a matter for considerable deliberation as an ideal site is seldom
available. In general, a prior knowledge of the likely local disturbances to the wind
field is required. Correction for deviations from the standard exposure height may also
be necessary. Measurements must be representative of the wind field over the area of
interest for valid dispersion estimations. A comprehensive report covering the entire
measurement project can often prevent misuse of data.
 AS 2923—1987
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Australian Standard
for
AMBIENT AIR GUIDE FOR MEASUREMENT OF
HORIZONTAL WIND FOR AIR QUALITY APPLICATIONS
1 SCOPE. This standard sets out a guide for
measurement of horizontal wind speed and direction
using rotating cup or propeller type anemometers and
wind vanes.
2 APPLICATION. This standard applies to the
determination of wind speed and direction for the
purpose of air quality applications at wind speeds
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ranging from the lowest measurable with this type of
equipment, i.e. less than 0.5 metres per second up to
gale force and above, in various terrain categories and
environmental conditions at heights typically from one
metre to tens of metres above ground level.
3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS. The following
standard is referred to in this standard:
AS 1768 Lightning Protection
In addition, a bibliography appears at the end of this
text to which references are made (e.g. Ref. 1).
4 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this standard,
the following definitions apply:
4.1 Anemometer — a device for measuring wind
speed or wind speed and direction.
4.2 Wind direction — the direction from which the
wind blows.
4.3 Threshold (of a speed sensor) — the lowest wind
speed at which the sensor (cup wheel or propeller) of
an anemometer starts and continues to turn and
produces a measurable signal when the anemometer is
mounted in its normal operating attitude.
4.4 Distance constant (of a speed sensor) — the
distance the air flows past a speed sensor during the
time it takes to indicate (1 − 1/e) or 63 percent of a
step change in wind speed.
NOTE: This definiti on applies only for wind speeds above the
threshold speed, and the value for a partic ular anemometer is only
approximately constant over its operating range.
4.5 Threshold (of a wind vane) — the lowest wind
speed at which a vane will start to turn towards the
wind direction from an initial displacement of 10°.
4.6 Distance constant (of a wind vane) — the
distance the air flows past a wind vane during the time
it takes the vane to respond to 63 percent of a step
change in wind direction.
NOTE: Comments given for the wind speed sensor distance
constant equally apply here.
4.7 Overshoot (of a wind vane) — the amount of
movement past the final settled position of a wind vane
following a step change in wind direction.
COPYRIGHT
4
4.8 Damping ratio (of a wind vane) — a constant
that is dimensionless and independent of wind speed.
The damping ratio (r) is calculated (see Ref. 1) from —
. . . . . . . . . . (Eq. 1)
where Ω is the ratio of the value of any one overshoot
to that of the previous overshoot for two successive
half cycles of the decaying oscillatory movement of
the vane following a step change in wind direction.
4.9 Sigma theta (σθ) — the unbiased estimate of the
standard deviation of variations from the mean
horizontal wind direction.
4.10 Run-down time — the elapsed time for the cup
wheel or propeller of an anemometer to cease rotation
after being subjected to a nominated rotation rate in a
still air environment.
4.11 Accuracy — the extent to which a measurement
agrees with the true value (see Ch.1 of Ref. 2). For
this standard, an accuracy of ± A means that a single
measured value of wind speed or direction is expected
to be within ± A (metres per second or degrees) of the
true value for at least 95 out of 100 cases. Sensor
accuracies are defined only for steady wind speeds and
directions above the starting thresholds for the sensors.
4.12 Linearity — the maximum deviation between the
curvilinear characteristic and the manufacturer’s
assumed or fitted straight line characteristic over the
working range of the instrument. The method used to
obtain the linear relationship should be clearly stated
to avoid uncertainty in interpreting performance data.
5 PRINCIPLE. Horizontal wind speed and
direction can be determined by means of rotating cup
wheel or propeller anemometers and wind vanes
mounted near the earth’s surface in the ambient
atmosphere. Measurements in either polar or cartesian
coordinates may be made.
For measurements in polar coordinates, the wind
direction component is measured by means of a wind
vane. The speed component is measured by means of
an omni-directional sensor mounted near the wind
vane, or by a sensor which is mounted on the wind
vane and so kept oriented towards the direction of the
wind. A single propeller mounted on the head of a
wind vane is an example of the latter.
Measurements in cartesian coordinates are made by
two propeller wind speed sensors mounted at right
angles and in a fixed orientation.
 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS 2923-1987, Ambient air - Guide for

measurement of horizontal wind for air quality
applications
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

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