Research and Development Studies for a Low-Level Wind-Measuring System

This report describes the research and development effort involved in creating an instrument capable of measuring the speed and direction of winds ranging from 1 to 50 ft per sec at any selected point between 0 and 1000 ft above the earth's surface. The sensitive instrument element was an electrically heated Thermistor rod producing an electrical signal variation as a result of the convective cooling action of the measured wind. The electrical signal from the elevated instrument station was conveyed to the ground indicator station by a transmission cable. The instrument was stabily supported and selectively positioned in the wind by a tethered kite-type balloon.