Thermal fingerprints

Thermal fingerprints

The method of „thermal fingerprinting“ is used to define the microclimate of different places like streets. One reason to use this method is to find out meteorological deviations. Every small surface owns his local climate. During periods of low wind speed and less clouds big differences of surface- and air temperatures of more than 10 ° C can occur.

These microscale thermal differences can have big effects. Some streets can get covered with rime, other stay dry. Some places are covered with snow, others stay wet. During hot summer days places with high temperatures and sunshine are a potential threat for people circulation problems.

A special investigation on days with low wind speed and only little clouds can used to get a thermal fingerprint, which discribes the microclimatical situation of the surface.

A forecast of ice, heat, energy consumtion, air quality and others can be made.

This procedure is used on a tourism web site for example.

On the website www.siebengebirge.de rambling routes are choosen after the weather forecast. Because of the “thermal fingerprint”every route it is possible to say which route is favorable in different weather situations. To give an example, during summer time, some routes are dangerous, because of heat and high temperatures. A sign warns people with circulation problems to use this route. During winter sunny routes which offer a cover from cold winds are offered.

With thermal fingerprints costly mistakes with the winter road service can be avoided.

More information about the method and the price :

Michael Mertens , Tel. 0228 / 97 67 97 3