Any thoughts on how these would work with freezing rain? Most I've seen is around .50" this year.
The standard anemometer does poorly and the freezing rain events sometimes are a precursor to a blizzard so I end up with no wind data. Frustrating.
A proper Ultrasonic anemometer requires a lot of power for freezing conditions and I doubt there is enough in a little solar panel to be useful?
Hello to the round
I am new here in this Forum and have just read the discussion here.
It's not just about "freezing rain." It is also about the following weather phenomena:
- Fog at Temps < 0°
- Wind with snowdrifts
- very low temperatures with ice formation
- Snowfall and windy conditions
I had some EXTREME experience with the Vaisala WXT510 a few years ago. This sensor was heated - but still too little. And this with a Finnish sensor ! We found a replacement in the WS425, which is heated with about 60W at the sensor arms.
Reason: Even the smallest ice formation falsifies the measurement and generates "storm winds" which did not exist at all.
How Davis can bring such an ultrasonic sensor on the market is a mystery to me. Even at non-alpine locations there can be ice formation (ground frost etc.). Either Davis doesn't know yet what they are getting into, or they have invented a completely new technique that ignores ice formation and snow crystals.
Ultrasonic Sensor with 240W (!) heating power for extreme conditions:
https://swisswetter.shop/VENTUS-X-UMB-von-Lufft-mit-Ultraschall-Windsensor-mit-erweiterter-HeizungYou see: An ultrasonic sensor stands and falls with the heating power.
Best regards
Markus