Ceilometers and Cloud Height / Base sensors or also called “Skyhøjdemåler” in Danish
A ceilometer is a device that uses a laser or other light source to determine the height of a cloud bases and overall cloud thickness. One important use of the ceilometer is to determine cloud ceilings at airports. The device works day or night by shining an intense beam of light (often produced by an infrared or ultraviolet transmitter or a laser), modulated at an audio frequency, at overhead clouds. Reflections of this light from the base of the clouds are detected by a photocell in the receiver of the ceilometer.
Hans Buch A/S is proud to cooperate with the Swedish company Eliasson Engineering, who is highly specialized when it comes to particularly cloud height detection with laser based ceilometers for weather observation systems. In order to measure the height as well as the amount of clouds, so-called ceilometers (cloud base sensors) are applied.
The main product these days is the Cloud Ceilometer CBME80. Due to its excellent performance, low weight and easy maintenance the cloud ceilometer has been used for many different purposes. It can be used at both small and large airports, at sea on oil platforms and ships, for civil and military operations and other weather projects.
A SPECIAL version CBME120 is also available for detection up to 40.000 feet / 12.200 meters
A laser ceilometer consists of a vertically pointing laser and a receiver in the same location. A laser pulse with duration on the order of nanoseconds is sent through the atmosphere. As the beam travels through the atmosphere, tiny fractions of the light are scattered by aerosols. Generally, the size of the particles in question is similar in size to the wavelength of the laser. The reflected beam is measured and by time of traveling the wave height is determined for the first and in case there are, second and third cloud base.
General data
- Standard 25.000 ft measuring range capability
- Optional model (up to 40.000 feet / 12.200 meter)
- Strong price and performance ratio
- Reliable operation – MTBF 100.000 h
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Very long laser life (calc. 10 years)
- Low weight and low power consumption
