Extreme Turbulence (ET) probe

ARL designed and developed the ET probe to measure winds, turbulence, and air-sea fluxes in conditions with rain and high-winds, such as those encountered in hurricanes. Standard anemometers cannot make measurements in those conditions. The ET probe is basically an aircraft gust probe (an air velocity sensing instrument mounted on the front of aircraft) that has been adapted for use at a fixed surface location in high winds. It has special modifications to mitigate the effects of rain and spray on the wind data. The ET probe has been successfully deployed on land in advance of hurricanes to measure details of wind gusts and turbulence. ARL is currently developing a version that could be placed on buoys for several months. The intent is to eventually allow ET probes to be placed in open water in areas likely to be hit by a hurricane. This would enable the collection of information on the exchange of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere in a hurricane, which is a poorly understood but an important factor in hurricane intensification.

For More Information:

• Field Research Division's ET probe Studies