APPLICATION NOTE

Aligning Wind Vanes

Introduction
Wind Vanes measure wind direction relative to the orientation of the fixed base on the sensor. This Application
Note gives you the information you need to orient your wind vanes correctly when they are mounted to the
tower. This note also includes information on using Offset and Magnetic Declination corrections when scaling
your data to obtain properly scaled and oriented data.
Magnetic Declination
Since the earths magnetic field is not uniform, the magnetic poles do not coincide with the true geographic
poles. Moreover, a compass generally doesnt point to a true geographic pole; it points to a magnetic pole. This
difference between a true geographic bearing and a magnetic bearing varies from location to location and is
called magnetic declination. Magnetic declination or compass variation is the horizontal angle between true
north (also called geographic north or map north) and the direction the compass points, magnetic north.

Magnetic declination is measured as the number of degrees of error a compass shows at a site. The declination
for sites located east of the magnetic north pole is expressed as the number of degrees that magnetic north is
west of true north. The declination for sites located west of the magnetic north pole is expressed as the number
of degrees that magnetic north is east of true north. For example, Vermont (USA) has a magnetic declination of
15 degrees west. In other words, magnetic north in Vermont is 15 degrees to the west of true north. Magnetic
north in Fairbanks, Alaska (USA) is about 27 degrees east of true north; therefore, its magnetic declination is 27
degrees east.

The earths magnetic field varies slightly in position over time. Therefore, the magnetic declination at a site also
varies over time. Because of this variation, it is important that you reference an up-to-date map of declination
(isogonic map) if you choose to orient your wind vanes to magnetic north. Later you can enter a correction for
magnetic declination into your wind data analysis software if desired.
Mounting and Aligning Wind Vanes
Since a magnetic compass is the simplest direction reference, it is sometimes convenient to orient wind vanes in
the field to magnetic north. Most NRG customers, however, align their wind vanes to true north. Before
installing your NRG logger, decide whether you want wind direction data to report north when the wind is from
the magnetic north or when the wind is from true north. Be sure to make note of your choice and maintain
consistency among your sites and projects.

Global leader in wind measurement technology

110 Riggs Road Hinesburg VT 05461 USA TEL (802) 482-2255 FAX (802) 482-2272 EMAIL sales@nrgsystems.com
\\sol3\techsupport\documents\appnotes\out\anvanealign.doc Rev #3 4 April 2011
 APPLICATION NOTE
To align a wind vane to true north:
1. Use a transparent orienteering compass with a rotating bezel and magnetic declination markings. In the
example in Figure 1, 15 degrees west means that the direction of the compass needle (magnetic north)
lies 15 degrees west of true north.

Figure 1
NOTE: Lining up the ridges on the body of the wind vane will cause the sensor to indicate a north reading. Be sure to keep this in mind
when orienting the wind vane on the mounting boom.

2. Stand so that it is possible to sight along the tower from the top to the base. Align the bearing mark on
the compass so that it points directly in line with the tower, top to base. The bearing of the TallTower in
the example in Figure 2 is 270 degrees.

Figure 2

3. Without moving the base of the compass, rotate the bezel so the north end of the needle points to the
declination mark that corresponds to local declination.

4. Loosely attach the mounting boom to the TallTower.

Global leader in wind measurement technology

110 Riggs Road Hinesburg VT 05461 USA TEL (802) 482-2255 FAX (802) 482-2272 EMAIL sales@nrgsystems.com
\\sol3\techsupport\documents\appnotes\out\anvanealign.doc Rev #3 4 April 2011
 APPLICATION NOTE
5. Lift the compass to a vertical position so the bearing mark points straight up. Use a level if necessary.

6. Sight through the compass so the center of the compass is over the point where the boom contacts the
tower, with the bearing mark still straight up. See Figure 3.

BOOM

UP
BEARING
MARK NORTH MARK

TOWER, VIEWED
FROM TOP

COMPASS

Figure 3
7. Have a crew member rotate the boom until it aligns with the north mark on the compass, and tighten the
boom.

8. Attach the wind vane with the north arrow index mark on the base pointing in the same direction as the
north mark on the compass. The #200P wind direction vane is designed to mount with a cotter pin and
set screw to a NRG sensor mounting boom. Insert the cotter pin from the side that the positive (+)
terminal is on, through the sensor so the ends exit the same side as the negative (-) terminal. Separate
the ends of the cotter pin so it will not fall out. The cotter pin installs horizontally through drilled holes in
the boom and vane, allowing the base of the vane to point in one of two directions, toward the tower or
away from the tower. See Figure 4.

Figure 4
Global leader in wind measurement technology
110 Riggs Road Hinesburg VT 05461 USA TEL (802) 482-2255 FAX (802) 482-2272 EMAIL sales@nrgsystems.com
\\sol3\techsupport\documents\appnotes\out\anvanealign.doc Rev #3 4 April 2011
 APPLICATION NOTE
9. When you raise the TallTower, the north arrow on the base of the wind vane will point to true north.

10. Use the compass to verify your settings. If necessary, adjust the position of the mounting boom before
raising the TallTower.

Figure 5
Using Data Analysis Software to Correct for Magnetic Declination
If you orient your wind vanes toward magnetic north but want the direction data reported relative to true north,
enter the magnetic declination for the site into the offset or magnetic declination field in your wind data analysis
software. NRGs BaseStation Software, for example, has a field called Mag Declin. BaseStaion applies the
declination to all wind direction data for the site if the Mag Declin field is set to anything but zero. Declination is
not needed if you orient your wind vanes to true north.

Note: Wind direction vanes have a small range centered around the sensors north reading that is called the
dead band and produces a zero reading. Although NRG Loggers have an algorithm that interprets north
readings correctly, when the prevailing wind is from the north, it may make sense to orient the vane to a
direction other than north. If you do this, compensate for the orientation by entering a value in the wind vane
offset field of your data analysis software. For example, if you orient your wind vane to the south (180
degrees), enter an offset of 180 for the vane.

Note: If you orient your wind vane to a magnetic bearing other than magnetic north, you need to enter values
for both magnetic declination and offset in your data analysis software. Enter the sites magnetic declination so
that your software can compensate for the declination; enter an offset to compensate for the orientation of the
vane. If just one offset field is available in your software, such as NRGs Symphonie Data Retriever software,
you will need to combine the magnetic declination value with the offset value (if wind vanes are not oriented to
true north) and enter the net value. For example, if your wind vanes are oriented to the south instead of north,
and your site has a magnetic declination of 15 degrees west, you would enter 195 in the offset field.
Declinations to the west of true north are subtracted from the magnetic reading, and declinations to the east of
true north are added to the magnetic reading.

Global leader in wind measurement technology

110 Riggs Road Hinesburg VT 05461 USA TEL (802) 482-2255 FAX (802) 482-2272 EMAIL sales@nrgsystems.com
\\sol3\techsupport\documents\appnotes\out\anvanealign.doc Rev #3 4 April 2011