Simple method of calibration of conventional sodar antenna system

Abstract The accurate estimation of sodar antenna parameters, back-scattering cross-section and a knowledge of acoustic absorption in the atmospheric air are needed in case structure parameters are to be computed. In the paper a simple method using a theoretical antenna directivity pattern, together with measurements of transduction characteristics of the acoustic transducer has been suggested. The method has been used for two sodars belonging to the Russian Academy (Sodar Latan-I) and the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, The theoretically and experimentally determined directivities of the Sodar Transducer Systems have been compared and it has been found that they coincide rather satisfactorily within the angles at which the paraboloids of sodars are seen from their respective foci. Computed thermal structure parameter values using Sodar Latan-I based on the above approach have been found to be comparable with the values computed from microthermal data collected simulaneously at the same place