The CSAT3A 3-D Sonic Anemometer is the 3-D sonic anemometer of choice for eddy-covariance measurements. It has an aerodynamic design, a 10 cm vertical measurement path, operates in a pulsed acoustic mode, and withstands exposure to harsh weather conditions. Three orthogonal wind components (ux, uy, uz) and the speed of sound (c) are measured and output at a maximum rate of 50 Hz. The CSAT3A head is operated by the EC100 electronics, which also control either an EC150 or EC155 gas analyzer.
Measurements can be triggered from two sources:
The SDM protocol supports a group trigger for synchronizing multiple CSAT3As.
Leia maisThe CSAT3A is an optional component of an EC150 open-path or EC155 closed-path CO2/H2O gas analyzer. It attaches to a common mounting bracket and connects to the gas analyzer's EC100 electronics module.
Measurement Path Length |
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Path Angle from Horizontal | 60° |
Construction | Sealed sonic transducers and electronics |
Anemometer Head Materials | Stainless-steel tubing |
Electronics Box Materials | Welded aluminum |
Operating Temperature Range | -30° to +50°C |
Voltage Supply | 10 to 16 Vdc |
Current |
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Digital SDM Output Signal | CSI 33.3 k baud serial interface for data logger/sensor communication. (Data type is 2-byte integer per output plus 2-byte diagnostic.) |
Support Arm Diameter | 1.59 cm (0.63 in.) |
Transducer Diameter | 0.64 cm (0.25 in.) |
Transducer Mounting Arm Diameter | 0.84 cm (0.33 in.) |
Anemometer Head Dimensions | 47.3 x 42.4 cm (18.6 x 16.7 in.) |
Anemometer Head Weight | 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) |
Measurements |
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Outputs |
ux, uy, uz, c (ux, uy, uz are wind components referenced to the anemometer axes; c is speed of sound.) |
Speed of Sound | Determined from three acoustic paths; corrected for crosswind effects. |
Measurement Rate | Programmable from 1 to 60 Hz, instantaneous measurements. Two over-sampled modes are block averaged to either 20 Hz or 10 Hz. |
Output Bandwidths | 5, 10, 12.5, or 20 Hz |
Output Rate | 10, 20, 25, or 50 Hz |
Measurement Resolution |
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Offset Error |
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Gain Error |
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Rain | Innovative ultrasonic signal processing and user-installable wicks considerably improve the performance of the anemometer under all rain events. |
Digital USB and RS-485 Output Signal |
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Baud Rate | 230400 bps (maximum) |
Data Type | Comma-delimited ASCII |
SDM, USB, & RS-485 Digital Outputs Reporting Range |
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Full-Scale Wind | ±65.535 m/s autoranging between four ranges (Least significant bit is 0.25 to 2 mm/s.) |
Speed of Sound | 300 to 366 m/s (-50° to +60°C) Least significant bit is 1 mm/s (0.002°C). |
Please note: The following shows notable compatibility information. It is not a comprehensive list of all compatible products.
Number of FAQs related to CSAT3A: 22
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No. The offset is a function of temperature and time. Once a year, spot-check the sonic anemometer wind offset using the procedure outlined in the CSAT3B instruction manual. If the measured offset is outside the specification, return the sensor to the factory for calibration. To request a return material authorization (RMA) number, follow the steps listed on our Repair and Calibration page.
Campbell Scientific does not offer any mounting booms or hardware that enable easy and frequent positioning of the sonic anemometer sensor head. This type of hardware must be provided by the user.
Ultrasonic anemometers are unable to make measurements if the sonic path is blocked. The path may become blocked by water that puddles on the lower transducer face or droplets that hang from the upper transducers. Sonic wicks, which come with all sonics, can be placed on the transducers to wick away moisture from the faces of the transducers. Ensure that these wicks are removed during cold conditions to prevent ice from building up around them.
The CSAT3/3A/3H is compatible with three output signals: analog, RS-232, and Synchronous Device for Measurement (SDM). The sonic anemometer can be interfaced to any data-acquisition system that is compatible with analog measurements or RS-232 serial communications. SDM is used with Campbell Scientific data loggers.
The CSAT3A or CSAT3B is calibrated over the temperature range of -30° to +50°C. The sonic anemometer operating temperature range can be shifted by 10 degrees to cover the range of -40° to +40°C. For low-temperature applications, it may be more appropriate to consider a heated version of our sonic anemometers.
The instrument will continue to operate outside the calibrated temperature range until the signal becomes too weak; however, the proper calibration will not be applied to the measurements because the calibration file only spans the specified temperature range.
The CSAT3A, CSAT3AH, CSAT3B, and CSAT3BH—like other sonic anemometers—measure wind speed along the sonic path using ultrasonic signals. If the salt spray blocks the sonic path, the sonic anemometer will not be able to make measurements. The same is true if a thick layer of salt is deposited on the transducer faces.
The sonic anemometer measures three-dimensional wind in a right-handed Cartesian coordinate system. From these measurements, use trigonometry to compute the wind flow angle, horizontal angle, and wind speed.
The sonic anemometer offset specification is ±8 cm/s. Therefore, it cannot be used in an application where the expected wind speed is in the range of ±5 cm/s.
The CSAT3A, CSAT3AH, CSAT3B, and CSAT3BH are calibrated over temperature for the effects of transducer delays on the wind speed, and to a lesser extent, for the speed of sound measurements.
There is no NIST-traceable standard for ultrasonic anemometers.