windRASS Extension

The Scintec windRASS Extension upgrades the Sodar models SFAS or MFAS to work in radio-acoustic mode for precise measurements of both wind and temperature. This differs from conventional RASS where radio-acoustic sounding is used for temperature measurements only. The Scintec windRASS is the first wind and temperature profiler that is completely insensitive to clutter, noise and precipitation. Also, windRASS does not depend on the existence of atmospheric thermal turbulence. Unlike Doppler lidar, windRASS can measure through fog and clouds.

With windRASS both, acoustic and electromagnetic waves are emitted not only in the vertical but also in tilted directions. The electromagnetic waves are backscattered at the acoustic waves and a Doppler analysis is performed. Wind and temperature are derived via their influence on the speed of sound. Radio-acoustic wind measurements have the advantage that they are not affected by noise, fixed echoes (ground clutter), precipitation or other moving objects (drones, birds, wind energy rotors, etc.) making this technology robust in challenging environments. windRASS can also operate in turbulence-free atmospheres such as often found in fog.

The Extended-Sweep Inversion technique (ESI) used in the Scintec RASS Extensions significantly increases the signal-to-noise ratio and allows for larger vertical measurement ranges than those of traditional RASS systems. The RASS Extensions for FAS Series operate using a versatile software with a flexible configurability, extensive graphical display and output options, robust quality control features, various statistical analysis tools and reliable remote access support.

Features
vertical temperature profiles with high spatial resolution
temperature and robust wind measurements in combination with Sodar SFAS or MFAS
unaffected by precipitation and turbulence-free atmospheres
immune to ground clutter and noise
maximum range up to 600 / 800 / 1000 m (with SFAS/ MFAS / XFAS)
vertical resolution down to 5 / 10 / 20 m (with SFAS / MFAS / XFAS)
Extended-Sweep Inversion technology for improved S/N ratio
easy installation and integration
fully-automated self-test
lifetime calibration-free

Specifications
Data output
Description
Wind speed and direction (RASS mode)
Standard deviations of wind components (RASS mode)
Standard deviation of wind directions (sigma phi, sigma theta) and stability class for air quality applications (RASS mode)
Wind shear for airport applications (RASS mode)
Temperature and virtual temperature
Inversion identifier
Data quality (RASS mode)
Basic Specifications
Description
Specification
Radio antenna
dual-bar slot antenna
easy disassembly for transport
Radio frequency
1290 MHz, 915 MHz
other frequencies on request
Vertical resolution
5 / 10 m with SFAS / MFAS
depending on Sodar model
Minimum range
40 m
depending on settings, environment and atmosphere
Maximum range
600 / 800 m with SFAS / MFAS
depending on settings, environment and atmosphere
Averaging time
1 to 60 min
user defined
Accuracy of horizontal wind speed
0.3 to 0.5 m/s
depending on mode, average over varying conditions
Accuracy
0.2 °C
virtual temperature
Measurement range
-50 °C to +60 °C
Operating temperature
-35 to +50 °C (-30 to +120 °F)
Power requirement DC operation
+14 VDC, 7A, 98 W
depending on mode
Power requirement AC line operation
104 to 132 VAC, 160 W; or 207 to 264 VAC, 160 W
120V model or 230V model
Accessories
Power Supply RASS RAE2/windRASS

This unit is for operation of a RASS RAE2 or windRASS Extension with AC power.

Isolating DC Power Adapter Type R, 10-28 VDC; for RAE2 and windRASS

This power adapter allows for DC operation of RASS RAE2 or windRASS.

RASS Interface Upgrade for SFAS

This upgrade permits to later install a RASS Interface into an existing SFAS Signal Processing Unit that was originally produced without RASS Interface.

RASS Interface Upgrade for MFAS

This upgrade permits to later install a RASS Interface into an existing MFAS Signal Processing Unit that was originally produced without RASS Interface.

Related Products
Flat Array Sodar SFAS

SFAS is a high-performance acoustic Wind Profiler with a compact and lightweight design, which provides the highest spatial resolution among the FAS series.

Flat Array Sodar MFAS

MFAS is a versatile acoustic Wind Profiler which combines the advantages of an excellent portability and a large vertical measurement range.

RASS Extension RAE2
for SFAS, MFAS, XFAS

The Scintec RAE2 RASS Extension upgrades any Sodar model (SFAS, MFAS or XFAS) to allow precise measurements of temperature profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer.

AWAIRE® Aviation

AWAIRE Aviation is a hardware, software and service package which is designed to provide the most complete, accurate and reliable information about upper winds and temperatures and to bring this to airport controllers, managers, meteorologists and pilots. AWAIRE Aviation uses a variety of the most advanced sensing technologies to continuously measure all relevant wind, temperature and turbulence parameters in the area of the departure and climb paths with high distance resolution, precisely and in near real-time. This includes wind speed and direction relative to the airplane as well as both, turbulence (EDR), vertical wind shear and density altitude.