Meteo Tower Description
Technical Specifications
The main goal of the Galileo Weather Station (GWS) is to provide the basic meteorological parameters, which are also available online, for normal telescope operations. High humidity and wind speed values can limit or even stop the observational activity: the GWS is continuously monitoring the local environmental conditions and ensures that the instrumentation and the telescope itself will not suffer any damage.
A short and basic description of the GWS can be found here. Most of the hardware is made by Vaisala Oy, a finnish firm which also provide many international scientific institutions.
The GWS is mounted on an 15 meters tall iron tower, designed by Dario Mancini, which also designed the DIMM tower. The robust structure is being stabilized by several stainless steel cables.
The meteorological probes
- Four Pt100 like temperature sensors are present: ground, 2, 5 and 10 meters. The accuracy is 0.2 degrees.
- The relative humidity is measured at 2 meters above the tower base. The accuracy is 0.2% within 90% of humidity but the value in the web page is given as an integer.
- The air pressure is measured by a PTB200 Class A digital barometer, which has an accuracy of 0.1 Hpa.
- The wind speed and direction is measured by a classic anemometer + wind vane mounted at the top of the tower.
The datalogger
The set of sensors are operated by a QLC50 datalogger, which is able to control meteo sensors and to send measured data to an external serial port. More QLC50 can be linked together and handled by a master station.
The power supply system
The GWS is not connected to the general power supply system, therefore a photovoltaic panel is committed to supply the subsystems. Furthermore, a set of sealed Pb batteries can supply the GWS whether the solar panel is not working.
The data link and communication
The GWS is connected to the telescope building through an optical fibre link. On the telescope side, a serial RS232 port on a VME bus hosts the signal cable coming from the tower.
Where to find more about...
GWS and its aims: TNG Newsletter no. 8, 9 and 16.
For further information about GWS, feel free to contact the GWS Team at Cagliari Astronomical Observatory