To obtain timely data for the purpose of air quality assessment, meteorological and
climate trend reporting and to meet the requirements for inclusion of the data in
provincial and national meteorological databases, a continuous method of measuring
Wind Speed and Direction is used. This method is capable of measurement updates at
a rate of once every five minutes or faster. Readings from instruments of this method
enables the calculation of hourly averaged measurements of Wind Speed and Direction.
Commercially available anemometer and vane Wind Speed and Direction sensors are
used in the method.
This method is applicable to the measurement of Wind Speed and Direction in ambient
air in the range of 160 kilometers per hour (kph) or 50 meters per second (m/s) and 0 to
360°.
This method adheres to the requirements of the current Air Monitoring Directive (AMD)
drafted by Alberta Environment in 1979. In some cases the limits and specifications
exceed the requirements of the current AMD and subsequent amendments. It should be
considered that the current and any future amendments or drafts of the AMD will be
used as the benchmark for requirements and criteria for ambient air monitoring practices
conducted in the Province of Alberta. Information used to write this procedure was also
taken from sources identified in the reference section.
