Operator`s manual
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Installation, Operation and Maintainance of Buoy Operated Automatic Meteorological Stations
Buoys and the Instrument Tower
5.1 General
All the meteorological sensors and related equipment are installed on buoys in Lake Nasser. The buoys are partly
manufactured from Ocean Science, USA and partly by High Aswan Dam Authority (HADA). The project, after design-
ing appropriate buoys for the specific conditions of Lake Nasser, has manufactured the instrument towers (also
called super structure), counterweights, mooring buoys and anchors for the mooring buoys within the HADA work-
shop while the buoy hull (2.23m in diameter) was delivered by the Ocean Science, USA. This has not only reduced the
costs significantly but also that HADA can now manufacture such platforms in future.
As shown in the design figure, the buoy hull has a diameter of 2.23 meters, which is very stable under weather
conditions. The buoy hull has an instrument container for securing the datalogger and the power supply. The height
of the instrument tower is 4 meters and is designed for the installation of sensors (wind speed, wind direction, tem-
perature, relative humidity) at 2 meters height and 4 meters height. The solar radiation sensor and digital compass
are also installed at around 2 meters height. The tower has also provision for the installation of two solar panels, a
navigation light and a security railing for the security of observers.
Buoys and the Instrument Tower