Long-term use of Thies CLIMA weather stations under extreme climatic conditions.For more than 8 years, several Thies CLIMA weather stations have been operated in the Atacama Desert as part of a German-Chilean research project to investigate fog as a potential sustainable source of water. The region in northern Chile is characterized on the one hand by extremely low precipitation with an average of less than 1 mm of rain per year and sometimes high wind speeds in combination with salty air. On the other hand, there is often high humidity due to rising air masses from the Pacific Ocean within sight, which leads to regular coastal fog (Camanchaca), especially at night. Due to the proximity to the sea, there are salt particles in the air, which place high demands on the corrosion resistance of the measurement technology. UV radiation is extremely high and temperatures fluctuate between over 35°C and just above freezing, depending on the time of year and time of day. The investigation of local vegetation as a bioindicator for fog availability requires extremely robust and at the same time precise meteorological measurement technology. The overall technical solutions must be flexibly adaptable in order to be able to integrate additional sensor technology for new scientific questions.
In this environment, Thies CLIMA weather stations have proven themselves many times and over many years. In detail, the following are used:
1) Wind speed and wind direction: Compact series
4.3519.00.000 ,
4.3129.60.000 and Classic series
4.3303.22.XXX and
4.3125.33.XXX Mechanical wind speed and wind direction sensors from the Compact and Classic series are used as wind measuring instruments. Both product categories are characterized by high robustness and durability, which is why they are used in applications with high availability requirements, such as wind turbines. Due to their wind measurement characteristics, the devices in the Classic series have established themselves as the standard wind measurement instrument for meteorological weather measurement networks for many decades. Due to the all-metal housing design, the Classic series is also used in the offshore sector, particularly for marine applications. The compact Compact series is also used in numerous infrastructural applications such as traffic applications, but also in building automation and in numerous special applications.
2) Temperature and humidity sensor: Compact series
1.1005.64.000 The very accurate sensor is also ideally suited for off-grid applications due to its low power consumption. A 4-wire PT100 sensor is used for temperature measurement and a capacitive measuring element for relative humidity, which provides reliable data even under extreme conditions. The integrated ZE21 sintered filter protects the high-precision measuring system from dust and other particles, which has proven its worth in the dusty environment of the Atacama Desert.
3) Precipitation sensor
5.4032.35.007 Thanks to the use of reed contacts, the precipitation sensor does not require an additional power supply, which makes it ideal for remote or self-sufficient locations. The device has a high linearity from very low precipitation intensities to heavy rainfall. Incorrect measurements during extreme events (> 40 mm/h) can be compensated for by the sensor electronics, so that a correct precipitation total is determined, which has often proved its worth in the case of the sometimes high volumes of fog water. In the research project, the precision up to the very high precipitation intensities is decisive, as the fog water quantities are recorded via so-called “standard fog collectors” and measured via the precipitation sensor. The stainless steel housing gives the device high corrosion resistance, robustness and resistance to environmental influences and temperature fluctuations.
4) Data logger:
DLU 9.1711.10.000 (as well as
DL 16 9.172x.xx.xxx )
The data loggers are characterized by low power consumption, which makes them ideal for applications with limited power supply. They offer reliable data logging over long periods of time and are easy to integrate. Data transmission is very flexible, including via mobile radio or satellite. Data can be transmitted live from anywhere in the world, no matter how remote. Several measuring stations are processed via one logger, including data from a local measuring network.
The technical specifications of the sensors used meet the requirements of the WMO, World Meteorological Organization.https://wmo.int/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-meteorological-organization/ Atacama Desert Centers der Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
http://www.cda.uc.cl/en https://www.linkedin.com/school/ucatolica/ Director Prof. Dr. Camio del Rio
https://geografia.uc.cl/planta-academica/jornada-completa/95-departamento-de-geografia-fisica/43-del-rio-lopez-camilo Head of the Research Camps of the Uni. Católica in Alto Patache
https://geografia.uc.cl/planta-academica/jornada-completa/95-departamento-de-geografia-fisica/387-osses-mcintyre-pablo UNESCO Chair in Heidelberg
https://www.unesco.de/bildung/unesco-lehrstuehle/unesco-lehrstuehle-de https://www.rgeo.de/cms/p/unescochair/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/deutsche-unesco-kommission/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/phheidelberg/ Prof. Dr. Alexander Siegmund
UNESCO Chair on World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve Observation and Education, Full professor (C4) for Physical Geography and Geo-education
https://www.rgeo.de/de/p/siegmundalexander/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-siegmund-30004583/ Prof. Daniel Fernandez, PhD von der California State University, Monterey Bay (Fog researcher)
https://csumb.edu/aes/daniel-fernandez/ https://csumb.edu/news/experts-directory/daniel-fernandez/ Dipl. Ing. Edgar Grimme, Thies CLIMA, R&D Department
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