In the framework of SHARE (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment) project of Ev-K2-CNR the first permanent Automatic Weather Station (AWS) has been installed in Uganda, on July 18, 2006 at 4,750 m asl in the western part of the Stanley Plateau, the biggest Ruwenzori glacial mass. The AWS is now part of a network of three stations located in the Ruwenzori National Park characterized by an alpine highland of glaciers, snowfields and lakes with distinct vegetation zones, several endangered species and the richest mountain flora in Africa other than a very unusual cloud forest (UNEP, WCMC, 2006). This AWS is similar to the other Ev-K2-CNR AWSs already installed in the high altitude regions of Himalaya and Karakorum. They provide continuous measurements of the seven meteorological standard parameters of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, global solar radiation and total precipitation. In autumn and spring the high mountain climate is subjected to heavy precipitation, while winter and summer are very dry seasons. The collected information will contribute to better understanding the impacts of climate change on glaciers, related particularly in this case to one of the most important glacial system of the African Region. The Rwenzori observations will permit to study physical and dynamical processes at African high elevations in the framework of SHARE and GEWEX-CEOP HE programs to improve our understanding of variability and change in hydrological and energy cycles and their role in the climate system.

Speed:

Measurement range0 ÷ 60 ms-1

Threshold 0,38 ms-1

Response time (63% at 12 ms-1) 2,5 s

Delay distance (63% at 1.1 ms-1) 7,7 m

Resolution (integration time=1s) 0,05 ms-1

Accuracy & Linearity 0,1 m/s+1%VL (readout)

Direction:

Measurement range 0 ÷ 360° (electric 0 ÷ 356°)

Threshold 0,4 ms-1

Response time (63% at 4 ms-1)0,74 s

Delay distance (63% at 4 ms-1)< 4,3 m (a 4 ms-1)

Logarithmic damping (at 4 ms-1) d= ln(a/b)=1,9

Wavelength (a 4 ms-1) = 7,4 m

Transfer function Dir(°)= 355 x R(Ohm)/2000

Resolution 0,1°

Accuracy 1% FS (Full scale)

Integral linearity 0,5%