What are some tips for a good ATMOS 41W installation?
Location: Make sure the location you choose will give you answers to the questions that you want answered. If you’re looking for general weather monitoring, make sure the location is far (at least 3X height of tallest obstruction) from any obstructions to wind. Make sure the vegetation is representative, and make sure the topographical location is representative. Rooftops are pretty bad generally, as are deep valleys or hilltops. If you’re looking for reference ET, you’ll want to deploy in the field with at least a few meters of crop on all sides of the installation. Also make sure that nothing is going to shade the solar radiation sensor.
Height: A lot of groups mount the ATMOS 41W at 2 m height, because this is the norm for reference evapotranspiration. Others go higher for meteorological observations. Some even deploy in the canopy for specialized research questions. You can deploy easily at whatever height you want as long as you have the right mounting apparatus.
Mounting apparatus: The ATMOS 41W is designed to mount on a vertical rod (see the user manual and quickstart guide for exact dimensions). It is often deployed on a vertical pole anchored by either guy wires or by a good-quality tripod. Some even mount on T-posts, preferably with some guy wires to add stability.
Level: Be sure it's level. This is important for the ATMOS 41W. See manual for instructions.
Check the data flow before you leave the field: Take a laptop (or handheld device) and the right software to make sure all the connections are good and that your data acquisition system is recording and/or transmitting data properly. A good best practice is to set it all up in the lab or office first, troubleshoot any issues, and then go to the field.
Always take a complete toolset: You never really know what you’re going to need when troubleshooting unique situations.