The Metek USA-1 sonic anemometer measures the 3 orthogonal components of the wind velocity by measuring the changes in the time of flight of sonic pulses between 3 transmitter/receiver pairs as a result of the air velocity. A sonic anemometer can provide rapidly updated measurements of the wind components, faster than a conventional cup and vane anemometer. This makes it particularly suitable for eddy covariance measurements and studies of turbulence. It operates continuously.

The Metek USA-1 sonic anemometer measures the 3 orthogonal components of the wind velocity by measuring the changes in the time of flight of sonic pulses between 3 transmitter/receiver pairs as a result of the air velocity.

Data are measured at 20Hz, with output recording the zonal, meridional and vertical wind speeds.