May 22 - July 28
Comparison and Impacts of Air Temperature Measurements from Aspirated and Unaspirated Radiation Shields
Latoya Wilcoxson and Bradley G. Illston
What is already known:
- Thermistor sensors in outdoor settings should be placed inside of a solar radiation shield to have the most protected environment to record accurate air temperature measurements.
- Solar radiation shields protect sensors from direct sunlight, wind, inclement weather, bugs, and dirt.
- There are two main models of solar radiation shields. (I) Unaspirated and (II) Aspirated.
- Unaspirated radiation shields require natural ventilation from the wind.
- Aspirated radiation shields require an energy unit that powers a small fan to create constant mechanical aspiration.
What this study adds:
- Comparison of newer aspirated and unaspirated radiation shield temperature measurements to Normans original unaspirated radiation shield temperature data.
- A statistical analysis of the comparisons of temperature differences to wind speed at 2 meters, relative humidity, and solar radiation.
- Provides how the seasonal changes affect the temperature difference of a solar radiation shield.
Abstract:
There are mechanical and thermodynamic differences between unaspirated and aspirated radiation shields that make each model useful for different environmental settings. This research explores the differences between both models of radiation shields compared to relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed at two meters, and how seasonal changes affect temperature differences. Five years of Mesonet temperature data was collected between five models of solar radiation shields and compared against the data from the oldest model. This method will show the comparison of the new versus the older solar radiation shield model temperature differences. The results found represent the statistical analysis for the comparison of each solar radiation shield model and in which way the temperature data is skewed in relation to environmental changes.