Mountain-watershed monitoring, glacier-front observation and summit atmospheric stations — built for helicopter-only access, with UV and lightning hardening as standard.
The constraints that shape every design decision
Every component must fit a sling load and be serviceable in a single short weather window, so reliability and modularity are paramount.
High-altitude UV degrades polymers and seals, while large diurnal swings fatigue enclosures and shift sensor baselines.
Exposed ridgelines and summits attract strikes that destroy unprotected electronics and telemetry.
Our response to the environment above
Self-contained modules sized and rated for helicopter sling transport, craned into place and commissioned in one visit.
UV-stable materials, sealed optics and a coordinated lightning-protection and surge-suppression scheme protect the bench.
Turbidity-tolerant intakes and meltwater chemistry logging capture the glacier-front flux through the melt season.
In the mountains the constraint is access, not footprint. We engineer each station so that transport, installation, calibration and the first data return all fit inside one helicopter window — and so that the next service visit can be months away without risk to the record.
Design parameters, environmental ratings and performance envelopes.
| Parameter | Specification | Standard / Test |
|---|---|---|
| Operating temperature | −40 °C to +50 °C | IEC 60068-2-1 / 2-2 |
| Relative humidity | 0–100% condensing | IEC 60068-2-30 |
| Enclosure rating | IP66 / IP67 | IEC 60529 |
| Impact resistance | IK10 | IEC 62262 |
| Altitude | 0–5,500 m AMSL | Derated power >3,000 m |
| Wind survival | 70 m/s (3-s gust) | BS EN 1991-1-4 |
| Snow load | 5 kN/m² | BS EN 1991-1-3 |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Primary power | Solar PV 200–800 Wp + MPPT controller |
| Backup power | LiFePO₄ battery 100–400 Ah @ 12/24 V |
| Autonomy (no sun) | 14–30 days at 20°C; 7–14 days at −20°C |
| Telemetry | Iridium SBD / LTE-M / LoRaWAN gateway |
| Data logger | Campbell CR6 / DT80 compatible; SDI-12, RS-485, 4–20 mA |
| GPS timing | ±1 ms sync for multi-station networks |
| Sample interval | 1 min to 24 h programmable; burst mode 1 Hz |
Parameters, ranges and accuracies for alpine hydrometeorological monitoring.
| Parameter | Sensor Type | Range | Accuracy | Calibration Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | Pressure transducer (vented) or radar | 0–10 m | ±2 mm | 12 months |
| Water temperature | PT100 Class A | −20 to +50 °C | ±0.1 °C | 12 months |
| Conductivity | 4-electrode cell | 0–20,000 μS/cm | ±1% FS | 6 months |
| pH | Combination glass electrode | 0–14 | ±0.05 | 3 months (field buffer) |
| Turbidity | ISO 7027 infrared scatter | 0–4,000 FNU | ±2% or ±0.5 FNU | 6 months |
| Dissolved oxygen | Optical (luminescent) | 0–25 mg/L | ±0.1 mg/L | 6 months |
| Air temperature | Shielded PT100 | −50 to +60 °C | ±0.2 °C | 24 months |
| Wind speed/direction | Ultrasonic anemometer | 0–75 m/s | ±0.1 m/s | 24 months |
| Solar radiation | Pyranometer (CMP3 class) | 0–2,000 W/m² | ±5% | 24 months |
| Snow depth | Ultrasonic depth sensor | 0–5 m | ±10 mm | 12 months |
Ensuring defensible data across seasons and service intervals.
| Step | Action | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pre-check | Inspect housings, desiccant, cable glands | No moisture ingress |
| 2. Sensor pull | Remove for bench check or replace with calibrated spare | Zero drift <2% FS |
| 3. Buffer checks | pH: pH 4.00, 7.00, 10.00; DO: 0% & 100% sat | Slope 95–105% |
| 4. Field verification | Co-located portable reference instrument | R² >0.995 |
| 5. Documentation | Calibration cert uploaded to cloud within 24 h | Traceable to UKAS |
Air-termination network, down conductors and earth electrode system designed for Lightning Protection Level III (peak current 100 kA). Earth resistance <10 Ω in rocky alpine terrain using multiple rods and conductive concrete.
Type 1 + Type 2 SPDs on all power and data lines. Sensor loops protected by gas-discharge tubes and TVS diodes. Common-mode and differential-mode protection rated 20 kA (8/20 μs).
Iridium SBD satellite link is inherently galvanically isolated from terrestrial lightning paths. Primary telemetry during electrical storms when cellular towers may be damaged.
Data logger and battery housed in grounded steel cabinet providing >40 dB attenuation at 1 MHz. All cable entries via EMC glands with 360° shield bonding.
Ruggedised sensors for high-altitude and cryospheric environments
Multi-parameter probe for glacier-front and proglacial streams: pH 0–14 ±0.02, conductivity 0–5000 µS/cm ±1 %, turbidity 0–4000 NTU ±2 %, ion-selective NO₃⁻ / Cl⁻ detection limit 0.05 mg/L. All sensors temperature-compensated over 0–20 °C.
WMO-class sensors rated for −50 °C: air temperature ±0.1 °C, relative humidity ±1 %, barometric pressure ±0.3 hPa (300–1100 hPa), wind speed/direction ±0.5 m/s / ±3° (0–85 m/s). Heated anemometer prevents ice accretion.
Pyranometer (ISO 9060 secondary standard) 0–2000 W/m² ±3 %, UV-A/B radiometer 280–400 nm ±5 %. Up/down facing pair for albedo calculation. Dome heating to shed snow and rime.
Ultrasonic snow-depth sensor 0–5 m ±1 cm with temperature-compensated sound speed. Ice ablation pressure transducer ±2 mm resolution. Integrated air-temperature reference for sound-speed correction.
32-channel, 24-bit ADC, ±0.04 % accuracy, −40 °C rated. 8 GB SD storage. Sleep current <1 mA. Interfaces: SDI-12, RS-485, analog, switched excitation. Firmware supports burst sampling and conditional logging.
Not sure which technology fits your application? Our process engineers will review your water quality data, flow rate, and treatment targets — then recommend the optimal solution.
Contact UsBaseline parameters recorded at altitude
| Parameter | Sensor Principle | Range | Resolution | Logging Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Temperature | Platinum RTD / thermistor | −50 to +60 °C | 0.01 °C | 1 min |
| Relative Humidity | Heated capacitive | 0–100 % | 0.1 % | 1 min |
| Barometric Pressure | Silicon capacitive | 300–1100 hPa | 0.01 hPa | 1 min |
| Wind Speed & Direction | Ultrasonic anemometer | 0–85 m/s | 0.01 m/s | 10 s |
| Solar Radiation | Pyranometer (ISO 9060) | 0–2000 W/m² | 1 W/m² | 1 min |
| Snow Depth | Ultrasonic ranging | 0–5 m | 1 cm | 15 min |
| Meltwater Turbidity | IR 90° nephelometer | 0–4000 NTU | 0.1 NTU | 5 min |
| Meltwater Conductivity | 4-electrode cell | 0–5000 µS/cm | 0.1 µS/cm | 5 min |
Maintaining traceability and survivability on exposed summits
Portable temp bath ±0.05 °C, conductivity standard 1413 µS/cm ±1 %, pH buffers 4/7/10 traceable to NIST. All standards accompanied by certificates.
Full sensor characterisation over −40 to +50 °C in climatic chamber. Temperature-compensation coefficients stored in logger firmware for each sensor serial.
Expanded uncertainty (k=2): air temp ±0.2 °C; snow depth ±2 cm; meltwater conductivity ±2 %; turbidity ±3 %. Combined uncertainty reported per data file.
Coordinated surge protection: Type 1+2 SPD on AC/power, Type 3 on all signal lines. Isolated earth ring <2 Ω. Air-terminal mast if structure height >5 m.
UV-stable polycarbonate enclosures (UV-PC), silicone gaskets rated −60 °C, conformal coating on all PCBs, replaceable desiccant cartridges with humidity indicator.
Tool-less front panel, blind-mate connectors, module swap <10 min. Pre-configured spare modules stored at base camp for rapid field replacement.
Data return and energy management where access is seasonal
Reynolds & Bauhm designs autonomous monitoring stations engineered to the specific demands of the site — survivable, self-sufficient and calibrated for a defensible long-baseline record.
Our expertise spans multiple industries with sector-specific water treatment solutions.