Wind measurements using a LIDAR on a buoy

Abstract

ABSTRACT LIDAR technology is a promising alternative for the measurement of winds, requiring less maintenance and lower costs than meteorological towers. They are capable of remotely profiling winds by means of an infrared laser, which is backscattered by aerosols and particles carried by the air. The LIDAR can be assembled on fixed or mobile platforms. When installed on platforms such as moored buoys, the motion caused by waves must be evaluated and corrected. This study describes the use of a mechanical system and analytical methods for the motion compensation of a buoy-mounted LIDAR. A 24-hour experiment was conducted on Furnas Hydroelectric Reservoir to test the mechanical system, evaluate residual motions, and assess the winds. Correction algorithms for the horizontal wind speeds were applied using pitch and roll measurements, provided by an inertial sensor. Analyses demonstrate that horizontal wind speed errors are negligible for buoy inclinations of less than 20 degrees. The buoy-mounted LIDAR represents an economical solution for wind profiling and resource assessment of aquatic environments.

Keywords

• Floating platforms
• LIDAR
• Remote sensing
• Wind energy
• Hydroelectric reservoirs