Meteorological Tower Site Selection

Met towers can be sited virtually anywhere.  The lack of power and communications is not a problem with a selected site. AAQS has installed and successfully operated landfill monitoring systems powered by solar panels. Communications is achieved using low cost license-free radio systems. Monitoring locations can be on capped landfill areas with no power and no hardwire or phone system.  Data communications can also be achieved using a cellar telephone.

Site selection is very important for the proper collection of meteorological data. EPA-454/R-99-005 defines the standard exposure height of wind instruments over level, open terrain as 10 meters above the ground.  Open terrain is defined as “the distance between the instrument and any obstruction is at least ten times the height of that obstruction.”  Obstructions can be man-made or natural (trees, hills). Siting of equipment at landfills should meet the specifications in the guidance document, unless that is impossible to achieve at the landfill.  Sensors placed on top of a building can be affected by aerodynamic effects of the structure.  Wind sensors should be placed on buildings only as a last resort. As a rule of thumb, the sensors should be placed 2.5 times the height of the building.