150 years in hydrology and meteorological measurement.

For 150 years, OTT HydroMet’s product brand, ‘OTT’ has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering state-of-the-art hydrological and meteorological instrumentation. Originating in Germany, OTT has since expanded to be a global industry leader providing the highest quality products, customized solutions, and technical support.

OTT HydroMet plans to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the OTT product brand with a five-month event highlighting new innovations, special customer events, global success stories, and more.

• New Innovations: The OTT brand continues to innovate with its latest release of the OTT PLS 500, smart pressure level sensor and the OTT ecoLog 1000, an all-in-one level logger and telemetry solution now with conductivity measurements.
• Special Events: A series of both private and public customer-facing events are scheduled across the globe including a dedicated customer event, Anwenderforum, at the Kempten headquarters in September.
• OTT Product Brand Archives: In this digital social campaign, followers will be guided through the history of the OTT brand, recounting inspiring moments and stories that contributed to the advancement of environmental monitoring.

“This significant milestone for OTT HydroMet occurs at a time when our mission of enabling decisions that protect lives and the environment is more important than ever,” stated Tom Bolling, President, OTT HydroMet.
“With our commitment to this mission and to our customers, OTT HydroMet will continue inspiring, enabling and sharing our expertise with generations of scientists, engineers, and hydrologists around the world.”

The OTT HydroMet Anniversary celebrations kicked off this May and continues through October 2023.

@OTTHydromet @_Enviro_News #OTT150, #OTTImpact #Environment

Efficient tests of pulse radar Tx characteristics.

A Pulse Radar Measurement Function MX284059B software option for the Signal Analyzer MS2840A has been released by Anritsu. As well adding new functions to the earlier MX284059A, this MX284059B release also supports new interlocked control of the USB Peak Power Sensor MA24406A/18A/40A for automatic high-accuracy transmission (Tx) power and pulse-width measurements. In addition to facilitating pulse-radar field maintenance tests, these new functions help reduce production-line test times for more efficient line throughput.

Pulse radars must always operate accurately and reliably because they are used widely for meteorological, shipping, coastguard, and aerospace monitoring applications as important social infrastructure assuring safety and security on land and sea, and in the air.

Inspection of the Tx characteristics is key for stable pulse-radar operation and conventionally requires various test instruments, including a separate spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, power meter, and frequency counter. In particular, when testing Tx spurious emissions, field engineers must create spectrum emission masks (pass/fail base lines) using results from several pieces of test instruments, which is time consuming. Moreover, more private weather forecasting businesses are installing high-performance pulse radar that is essential for monitoring increasingly frequent severe weather, such as sudden downpour and linear rainband causing heavy rain and flooding. Consequently, demand for pulse-radar maintenance testing is also increasing. However, the shortage of experienced field engineers may be unable to meet this rising test demand, which creates a need for automated shorter field tests using easily portable test instruments.

Analyzer Outline.
The MX284059B is configured easily in combination with the MS2840A and MA24406A/18A/40A to support tests of Tx characteristics and replaces the four conventionally required pieces of test instruments. Additionally, all test stages from data acquisition to spectrum emission mask creation are fully automated.

In comparison to its predecessor MX284059A, the MX284059B has a wider pulse-width measurement range for testing high-performance radar, including aerospace and maritime applications using short pulses as well as long-range radar using long-repetition cycles (long pulses).

Key Features.

• S-, C-, X-, and Ku-band (3 to 15 GHz band) pulse-radar Tx tests
• Automatic tests of Tx power and frequency, pulse width, pulse rise/fall times and repetition frequency, 40 dB bandwidth, and spurious emissions, with integrated saving of measured data, measurement screens, and pass/fail results
• Evaluation of spurious emissions test results using masks based on the Recommendation ITU-R SM.329, SM.1541 and M.1177 with masks superimposed on MS2840A test trace display

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* See also Releases in 2016 & 2021 for other developments in this instrument.

@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #5G #TandM

Live remote monitoring stations virtually.

Meteor Communications will provide a virtual exhibition booth at this year’s Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring event, WWEM 2021 (13/14 Oct 2021). Visitors to the booth will be able to view live examples of continuous, real-time remote monitoring stations and integrated data in the Meteor Data Cloud.

Delegates will be able to seek expert advice on how and where to install remote cameras for monitoring flood prevention assets for example, as well as how to apply the latest image recognition functionality.

Experts will also be available to provide help with water quality monitoring applications – where to install equipment; what to monitor, and how to obtain real-time data remotely. Visitors will be able to compare the relative merits of purchasing monitors and subscribing to the company’s ‘Water Quality as a Service’ offering.

Pre-registered delegates will be able to access the conference sessions free of charge. Delegates are invited to pre-book virtual meetings with Meteor Communications to ensure that appropriate expertise can be provided.

@MeteorComms @_Enviro_News #Water #Environment

More news from the Red Planet!

NASA’s Perseverance rover has now spent its first months on the surface of Mars. The testing and deployment phase is proceeding well, and after the first technology demonstration with the Ingenuity helicopter, the rover is commencing the continuous scientific measurements. With the arrival of the humidity and pressure measurement instruments onboard Perseverance, the first meteorological network on another planet is being created.

This picture, taken by Perseverance’s navigational camera,
shows the MEDA HS humidity measurement instrument. 

The Perseverance rover landed successfully on Mars in February 2021 and will now explore an ancient river delta in the Jezero Crater for at least the next Martian year, which is approximately two Earth years. After the landing, the rover stretched its robotic arms and has already delivered a good number of high-quality photos, videos, and audio samples back to Earth.

The rover’s Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrumentation suite, developed by a Spanish-led research consortium, has also been deployed. MEDA is a weather station that has been developed specifically for the conditions on Mars. Instruments by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and Vaisala are included in the MEDA suite to measure pressure and humidity conditions on Mars. The measurements and local wind data provided by the MEDA suite is also used by the Ingenuity Helicopter.

The measurement instruments need to be able to deliver reliable high-quality measurements even after the long space journey.

“Accurate and reliable science-based measurements are at the core of Mars research. That’s why it is great to receive verification that our sensors are working in the extreme conditions on Mars, even after the demanding space journey. Vaisala’s measurement technology is at its best in challenging measurement conditions,” says Liisa Åström, Vice President of Products and Systems at Vaisala.

“The equipment on Mars needs to work in all conditions and is tested accordingly. Manufacturing, testing, and finalizing the measurement instruments has been a major project lasting many years, so it feels great to see the instruments finally at work on Mars,” summarizes Maria Hieta, Research Engineer at FMI.

Hieta continues: “For instance, the humidity measurement instruments on Perseverance have gone through a tough selection process. FMI built 13 different instrument models around the humidity sensor, and these models were tested several times in harsh conditions such as very low temperatures. Additionally, the tests exposed them to vibration and shocks. The most reliable model was chosen as part of the MEDA equipment.”

First measurements reflect expectations
The MEDA equipment has now delivered the first round-the-clock measurement series on pressure and relative humidity to Earth. The measured values correspond to what was expected.

“The pressure levels and variation according to the time of day in the Jezero Crater reflect our models well. Relative humidity is practically zero (0% RH) during the day and rises during the night as the local temperature falls to nearly -80 °C. For comparison, 20 percent relative humidity is considered very low on Earth, and relative humidity near zero is hardly ever measured. The pressure data has also let us observe dust devils passing Perseverance, showing them as fast and sharp declines in the pressure signal,” explains Maria Genzer, Group Leader of Planetary Research and Space Technology at FMI.

Martian weather conditions and atmosphere interest Finnish researchers
The Perseverance rover has been designed to explore Mars’ conditions and geology as well as to search for signs of ancient life. Even though signs of life are fascinating, Finnish researchers are especially interested in the Martian atmosphere.

“Earth and Mars share a lot of similarities, which is why we find the study of Mars’ atmosphere so fascinating: it helps us to understand the behavior of Earth’s atmosphere. Additionally, dust storms on Mars can be harsh, so it is crucial to be able to predict the storms if we are to send manned space missions to Mars in the future. For this reason, Mars needs a weather station network,”Maria Genzer says.

Meteorological observation network based on Finnish expertise Perseverance and the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in 2012, provide measurements approximately 3,700 kilometers apart from each other. Both rovers carry similar Finnish pressure and humidity measurement instruments, which deliver data that is sent to Earth for analysis.

The data from the rovers, combined with observations from NASA’s InSight Lander on Mars, form the first three-point meteorological observation network on another planet. The network will enable even more accurate modeling of Mars’ atmosphere and its phenomena.

“In the future, we hope to get more measurement points on Mars. This is the ultimate goal for example in our MetNet program, in which we are developing small probes that will impact and penetrate Mars’ surface. These probes would then form a comprehensive meteorological observation network on the planet,” explains Maria Hieta.

The Mars 2020 mission is a part of NASA’s Mars exploration program. One of the main tasks of the Perseverance rover is to gather and store a series of rock and soil samples that can be brought back to Earth for analysis in the future. Finnish technology is scheduled to be launched to Mars again in 2022 aboard the ExoMars mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

* Read-out coverage on the Perseverance project & Mars Explanation. 

@VaisalaSuomi, @VaisalaGroup @NASAPersevere @_Enviro_News #Astronautics #Automation #Mars

Transmitters for demanding meteorological applications.

EE33-M is the newest addition to the well proven EE33 transmitter series for relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T) from E+E Elektronik. The heated RH sensor, the additional heating of the RH sensing probe and a separate T probe ensure highly accurate outdoor measurements even under condensation conditions. A special coating protects the RH sensor against pollution. Together with a radiation shield, EE33-M is ideal for high-end meteorology applications.

The heart of EE33-M is the innovative, monolithic HMC01 sensor, developed and manufactured in thin-film technology by E+E. HMC01 combines the RH sensor and heating resistor on a single substrate. A dual heating system prevents condensation on the RH sensor, on the sensing probe and on the filter cap, which leads to extremely short response time and fast recovery after condensing conditions. The measuring principle with separate RH and T probes enables precise continuous measurement even at permanent high humidity. The proprietary E+E coating protects the RH sensor element and its leads against corrosive and electrically conductive pollution.

A radiation shield is essential for best performance outdoors. The sensing probes of EE33M match modern radiation shields with forced ventilation such as LAM630.

EE33-M calculates all RH and T related parameters such as dew point temperature, absolute humidity, and mixing ratio. An optional connection cable allows for easy adjustment and configuration of the transmitter. The optional RS485 interface enables a network of up to 32 transmitters.

• E+E products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology. 

E+E Elektronik wins large contract for humidity transmitters!

The National Meteorological Service of Germany relies on sensor technology from Austria

The Austrian sensor specialist E+E Elektronik has won the contract from the Deutscher Wetterdienst - DWD (National Meteorological Service of Germany) to equip its weather stations with new humidity/temperature transmitters.

The DWD is Germany's highest authority for meteorology, weather and climate and operates almost 2000 weather monitoring points and stations. All previous humidity transmitters across the entire measurement network are to be replaced by 2015. The high-end transmitters deliver precise measurement results for exact weather and climate forecasts.

The humidity/temperature transmitters in use here are the EE33 series (type J). The devices feature high-precision and reliable measurement results even under the most challenging of ambient conditions. At the heart of this transmitter is the monolithic HMC01 measurement cell developed by E+E using thin-layer technology. Thanks to the unique E+E sensor coating, the measurement cell is optimally protected against condensation and chemical contamination. This was a factor that also persuaded the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) to procure these transmitters for themselves.

Previously humidity and temperature were each recorded using a separate transmitter. With the new humidity/temperature transmitters from E+E Elektronik, both these measurements can now be taken using a single instrument. A further benefit: measurement results will in future be transmitted digitally, not via analogue means.

All instruments are manufactured in Engerwitzdorf (A). The first hundred transmitters are scheduled to ship during August 2013.

E+E Elektronik itself operates a state-accredited calibration lab and holds the National Standards for relative air humidity and air flow velocity in Austria on behalf of the Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen - BEV (Austrian Federal Office for Metrology and Surveying).

• E+E products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

Out of this world! Abb in space!

An ABB interferometer is at the heart of a key instrument for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP), the first of a new generation of US meteorological satellites to be launched by NASA on October 28, at 5:48:01 a.m. EDT.

Pic: NASA

Working with its customer, ITT, on a contract worth nearly $50 million that was carried out in a number of phases, ABB developed the interferometer, which is a critical part of the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), one of the instruments that make up the next generation of US polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. The NPP will carry new sensors to monitor global environmental conditions, collect and disseminate data related to weather, atmosphere, oceans, and land.

The NPP is the first satellite mission to address the challenge of acquiring a wide range of land, ocean, and atmospheric measurements for Earth system science while simultaneously preparing to address operational requirements for weather forecasting. This will result in improved five-day weather forecasts and a better understanding of the formation of storms and changing weather patterns.

“Since its beginning, this project has always been very exciting for all ABB employees and especially for those who worked on the project itself. The launch of the NPP satellite marks the achievement of great teamwork,” said Philippe Berube, Program Manager with ABB’s Analytical business unit in Quebec City.

The CrIS offers 100 times higher spectral resolution than the sensors onboard the current generation of meteorological satellites. CrIS will produce high-resolution, three-dimensional temperature, pressure, and moisture profiles. These profiles will be used to enhance weather forecasting models, and they will facilitate both short- and long-term weather forecasting. Over longer timescales, they will help improve the understanding of climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña.

"The NPP mission is very gratifying since it will benefit all mankind by enabling more accurate weather forecasting and faster predictions of natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes.” said Marc-André Soucy, Remote Sensing Industry Manager with ABB in Quebec City. “This satellite will contribute to the increased security of the world population.”

RH probes provide ‘peak’ performance for meteorologists

Michell Instruments’ reliable meteorological probes are helping to predict the weather from the top of Europe’s second highest mountain peak.

The relative humidity probe is installed at the top of Monte Rosa (CH) at an altitude of over 4000 metres above sea level, and has been in use since the year 2000. The instrument, which uses Michell’s I7000 RH module, was chosen because it out-performed the alternatives in tests. The key to its performance is the unique six-point calibration the I7000 undergoes during production when each module is calibrated to 3 RH points at two temperatures. This calibration can be modified to suit particular applications, such as the exposed and extreme conditions at the summit of a mountain.

The I7000 is easily interchangeable to make maintenance simple. To ensure continued reliability in this particular application, the module is replaced every two years. This process is as simple as changing a light bulb which was an important consideration for an installation in such an inaccessible place.

The I7000 Hygrosmart interchangeable module forms the basis of a complete range of temperature and humidity instruments, suitable for applications from precision manufacturing to controlled environments and HVAC – as well as meteorology.