A comparison of three Met Office wind observing systems

Abstract Results of a side‐by‐side comparison of wind speed, as measured by three Met Office observing systems, are presented. Mean wind speeds as measured by each system differed by < 1.0 knots (0.5 m s −1 ) at wind speeds of up to 30 knots (15.4 m s −1 ). Although differences increased slightly with increasing wind speed, they remained within user‐specified accuracy limits over the whole range of wind speeds experienced. The trial set‐up involved the mounting of anemometers on a single mast. Although a slight sheltering of anemometers occurred at given wind directions, the effect on the overall wind speed differences was negligible. © 2012 British Crown copyright, the Met Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.