Note: A thermally stable tension meter for atmospheric soundings using kites

Kites offer considerable potential as wind speed sensors—a role distinct from their traditional use\udas instrument-carrying platforms. In the sensor role, wind speed is measured by kite-line tension. A\udkite tether line tension meter is described here, using strain gauges mounted on an aluminum ring\udin a Wheatstone bridge electronic circuit. It exhibits a linear response to tension 19.5 mV N−1\udwith good thermal stability mean drift of −0.18 N °C−1 over 5–45 °C temperature range and a\udrapid time response 0.2 s or better. Field comparisons of tether line tension for a Rokkaku kite with\uda fixed tower sonic anemometer show an approximately linear tension-wind speed relationship over\udthe range 1–6 ms−1. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.346556