The STABX or ‘Stable Boundary Layer Experiment’ is currently being conducted by the University of Canterbury Geography Department. STABX aims to understand the phenomenon behind the conditions yielding to, maintaining, and eventually breaking the stable layer boundary. The stable boundary layer (SBL) is a natural meteorologic occurrence, and is formed over a cold surface of earth.

Remote Location

The Cass Basin forms part of the Mid-Waimakariri Intermontane River Basin in central South Island, NZ. The location provides a wide scope of atmospheric environments that reflect a range of complex topography and diverse surface types, critical to undertake research into the SBL. 

Equipment
The STABX field observational network is comprised of many intricate monitoring and measuring devices, across multiple locations. Paramount to the project is the installation of three automatic weather stations and SODAR (sound detection and ranging) and RASS (radio acoustic sounding system) equipment. The SODAR-RASS equipment uses both sound and radio waves emitted vertically to measure atmospheric turbulence.

Power Requirements
One of the major issues with undertaking research in remote sites such as the Cass Basin is how to power vital equipment. Solar panels, along with a battery back-up were the most obvious choice for the site; however in times of poor weather there can be limited, or no sunlight for weeks. Battery banks were left uncharged and once flattened, research equipment was non-operational and therefore not recording valuable readings. As a result a technician would have to drive out to the site and re-charge or swap out the battery bank.

The Solution
The solution to this problem was the implementation of EFOY Pro Fuel Cell. Using direct methanol fuel conversion, the EFOY Pro Fuel Cell converts methanol into 12V or 24V DC. This recharges the battery bank when the output from the solar panels is too low, or not working due to poor weather.