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2008 GLOS Mooring deployment
Wind Speed; Wind Direction
Wind speed and direction are among the most important meteorological parameters that determine the behavior of lakes. Wind plays three major roles: It drives currents, it stirs up the water, and it mediates heat exchange. It also drives surface waves, which is perhaps the most noticeable of its effects!
We measure wind velocity with a sonic anemometer, which is a really clever device that uses sound travel time between very small transducers (combination speakers/microphones) to determine the wind velocity. We also have a compass that tells us which way the buoy is facing so that we know the true direction of the wind. Here's what one looks like (sorry for the odd perspective).
