Orientation correction of wind direction measurements by means of staring lidar

In spite of the efforts made at the time of installation of wind vanes or ultrasonic anemometers (Sonic), there is always a remaining uncertainty of several degrees in the absolute north of such sensors. In this research a method is presented to reduce the azimuthal orientation error of wind direction sensors by means of Doppler Lidar measurements. The method is based on the comparison between the conventional sensor and a distant long range lidar pointing to it in staring mode. By comparing their line-of-sight wind speeds any misalignment between both systems can be estimated more accurately. This method was applied in an measurement campaign in the offshore wind farm alpha ventus next to the meteorological mast FINO 1. The maximum alignment error of a Sonic was reduced to below ±1°. This accurate alignment has asserted, that no bias exists between Lidar and Sonic wind speed measurements.