Development of a Field Manual for the Characterization of Spray from Small Aircraft

Survival, Water, Medical Field Manuals

Military Manuals

R. K. Dumbauld, J. E. Rafferty

Document text

SPECIAL REPORT 
TR 76-113-01 


DEVELOPMENT OF A FIELD MANUAL FOR THE 
CHARACTERIZATION OF SPRAY FROM 
SMALL AIRCRAFT 


Prepared by 
R. K. Dumbauld and J. E. Rafferty 


Prepared for 


Forest Service 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Equipment Development Center 2 
Missoula, Montana 59801 


and 


Methods Application Group 
Davis, California 


Final Report Under Contract No. 26-3694 


December 1976 


H. E. CRAMER COMPANY, INC. 
University of Utah Research Park 
P. O. Box 8049 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 


LIBRARY COPY 
ROCKY MT. FOREST & RANGE 
EXPERIMENT STATION 


NO. 7734 2809 


FIELD MANUAL FOR CHARACTERIZING 
SPRAY FROM SMALL AIRCRAFT 


Prepared by 
R. K. Dumbauld and J. E. Rafferty 


Prepared for 


U. S. Department of Agriculture 
U. S. Forest Service 
Missoula Equipment Development Center 
Missoula, Montana 


Contract No. 26-3694 


December 1976 


H. E. CRAMER COMPANY, INC. 
University of Utah Research Park 
P. O. Box 8049 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 


TR 76-113-02 


Section 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


Title 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
INTRODUCTION 
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR FIELD CHARACTERI- 


ZATION OF SPRAY FROM SMALL AIRCRAFT. 


2.1 Grid Layout and Sampling Equipment 

2.2 Equipment for Field Analysis of Spray Deposit 
Cards 

2.3 Equipment for Field Laboratory Analysis 


DESIGNING THE SAMPLING GRID: OPERATIONAL 
CONSIDERATIONS 


8.1 Design of the Sampling Grid 
3.2 Operational Considerations 


FIELD CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SPRAY DIS- 
SEMINATION SYSTEM 


‘hel Plastic Templates for Sizing and Counting 


Drops 
4.2 Swath Width and Drop Density 
4.3 Field Estimation of Volume Median Diameter 


FIELD LABORATORY CHARACTERIZATION OF THE 
AIRCRAFT SPRAY DISSEMINATION SYSTEM 


5.1 Drop Density Distribution in the Swath 

5.2 Determination of the Swath Drop-Size Dis- 
tribution, Mass Median, Average Mass and 
Number Mean Diameters 

5.3 Estimation of Spray System Deposition, 
Deposition Efficiency (Mass Recovery) 
and Swath Width Based on Mass Deposition 


REFERENCES 


Page 


68 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 


The procedures described in this manual are principally based on expe rience 
gained during the conduct of spray characterization trials at Townsend, Montana in 
the late spring of 1976 and from an analysis of the data obtained during these trials. 
Many people participated in the development of the procedures outlined in the manual. 
In particular, the authors gratefully acknowledge the very valuable assistance of 
William McIntyre (Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah) and Robert Ekblad (U. S. 
Forest Service, MEDC, Fort Missoula, Montana) in all phases of the work. We are 
also indebted to John Barry and Lynne Whitcombe, U. S.:Forest Service, FI&DM 
Applications Group, Davis, California for their assistance in data analysis during the 
Townsend trials. The very helpful assistance of our colleagues W. R. Santee and 


A. L. Hancock during the post-trial data analysis is also gratefully acknowledged. 


SECTION 1 
INTRODUCTION 


The purpose of this manual is to describe field procedures for the rapid 
characterization of the spray deposit from small aircraft spray systems prior to 
forest spray operations. The techniques described in this manual are intended to 
assist spray project entomologists in establishing the applicability of specific spray 
system characteristics to particular application problems and to assist aircraft 
engineers in implementing and testing the effects of field changes in aircraft spray 
systems intended to improve application characteristics. Techniques are described 


for: 


2 Establishing the design of a sampling grid and test plan for 


determining spray characteristics 


e Estimating the volume median, number median and average 


mass diameters of the spray deposit 


° Estimation of the minimum effective swath width produced 
by the spray equipment and the mass per unit area deposited 


within the swath width 


e Estimation of the spray system deposit efficiency within the 


swath 


Section 2 defines the field equipment required to accomplish the spray char- | 
acterization. The development of a test plan and design of a sampling grid are dis- 
cussed in Section 3. The description of field procedures for spray characterization 
is contained in two sections. Section 4 describes procedures for the preliminary 
estimation of volume median diameter and swath width immediately after an aircraft 


spray flight so that immediate decisions can be made regarding aircraft flight altitude, 


nozzle type, nozzle configuration and other factors affecting spray deposit. Tech- 
niques for use in the field laboratory to confirm these preliminary estimates of 
volume median diameter and swath width and to obtain quantitative estimates of 

the number median diameter, average mass diameter and associated mass recovery 


are described in Section 5. 


SECTION 2 


EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR FIELD CHARACTERIZA- 
TION OF SPRAY FROM SMALL AIRCRAFT 


The successful conduct of spray characterization field trials requires a 
relatively large amount of equipment. Because field trials are usually conducted 
in remote areas, most of this equipment must be acquired in advance of the trials. 
The necessary equipment for establishing the sampling grid, conducting the trials, 
and analyzing the data is listed and briefly described in this section. In some cases, 
equipment is identified by manufacturer or catalog number. These designations do 
not constitute an endorsement of the equipment, but are given to assist in identifying 
the type of equipment or material necessary for accomplishing the objectives of the 


project. 
2.1 GRID LAYOUT AND SAMPLING EQUIPMENT 


Table 2-1 lists equipment required to lay out the sampling grid and to sample 
the spray drops and meteorological parameters. A brief description of the intended 
use of the equipment is also provided in the table. More detailed descriptions of the 


use of the equipment are given in Section 3 below. 


The sampler cards most often used in sampling spray drops containing oil- © 
red or organic tracer dyes are 17 by 11 centimeter cards, Kromekote Cover 65 
pound paper, glossy coated both sides, manufactured by the Champion Paper and 
Fiber Company, Hamilton, Ohio. A plastic card holder, manufactured by the Gen- 
eral Binding Company for Missoula Equipment Development Center (MEDC, USFS), 
has proven very effective in field characterization trials. The card holder is designed 
so that several sampling cards can be placed in the holder at one time and the top card 
removed after a trial to expose a clean card for the next trial. The lips of the card 
holder are such that the effective sampling area of the exposed card is about 14 by 9 
centimeters. Further information concerning other types of sampling cards and the 


card holders can be obtained from MEDC. 


4 


TABLE 2-1 


SAMPLING AND GRID LAYOUT EQUIPMENT 


Sampler Cards 


Card Holders 


Collection Boxes 


Marking Pens 


Manilla Rope and Ties, 
Tape Measure 


Wooden and/or Metal 
Stakes, Sledge 


Smoke Grenades 


Low-Level (2-meter) Wind 
Direction and Speed Sensor, 
Recording Equipment 


Pilot Balloons and 
Helium (Optional) 


Tethersonde (Optional) 


Collection of spray drops 


Protection of cards (from smudging, etc. ) 
and ease of handling 


Contain cards and holders for disposition 
and collection in the field 


Marking individual sampler cards with 
sampler location and trial number 


Layout of sampling lines 


Identification of sampling locations and 
lines 


Smoke plumes aid pilot in locating spray 
grid and director in estimating wind 
velocity relative to sampling layout 


Continuous chart record of wind speed 
and direction 


Vertical profiles of wind direction and 
speed 


Vertical profiles of temperature, wind 
direction, wind speed and relative 
humidity 


TABLE 2-1 (Continued) 


Transit or Theodolite 


Protective Clothing and/or 
Large Plastic Bags 


Communications 
Equipment 


Orienting sampling lines and meteor- 
ological equipment; theodolite can also 
be used to track pilot balloons 


Protection of field workers and equip- 
ment in aircraft spray path 


Communications between field crew and 
between field crew manager and project 
director 


Boxes for transporting the cards to and from the field laboratory and along 
the sampling lines are necessary. These boxes are conveniently constructed from 
plywood. Suggested inside dimensions are 13 centimeters wide, 20 centimeters 
deep and 36 centimeters long. A wide canvas shoulder strap attached to the ends 
of the box facilitates carrying the cards and card holders along the sampling lines. 
A small section can be added to the box for transporting marking pens, which may 


be required to alter the numbers identifying the sampling positions. 


Manilla ropes, tape measure, stakes and sledge hammers are necessary 
for laying out the sampler lines. Bright tape, such as surveyor's tape, is tacked to 
the 3/8 inch manilla rope using hog rings or other suitable fasteners at 10-foot inter- 
vals. One-hundred foot lengths of manilla rope are conveniently handled in the field. 
Quarter-inch stock metal rods cut 2,5 feet in length are used to mark card positions 


along the sampling lines. 


Smoke grenades, such as the U. S. Army Grenade, Hand M-18, with yel- 
low or white smoke are essential in conducting field characterization trials. The 
smoke plumes serve to indicate the wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric 


diffusion conditions, 


A battery operated low-level (2-meter) wind direction and speed sensor 
with associated strip-chart recording equipment is necessary for documenting mete- 
orological conditions during the characterization trials and in establishing preferred 
wind directions at a given site prior to the trials. Recording strip-chart speeds of 
3 inches per hour should be specified and changeable gears to permit chart speeds 
of 12 inches per hour. The Electronic Weather Station (EWS) manufactured by 
Climatronics Corporation, Hauppauge, New York, and equipped for measuring 
and recording wind speed and direction is typical of instruments meeting the above 
requirements. Pilot (10-gram) balloons are used to obtain vertical profiles of 
wind speed and direction. Continuous measurements of wind speed and direction 


and temperature in the vertical to heights above the planned aircraft altitude are also 


TABLE 2-3 


EQUIPMENT FOR FIELD LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF 
SPRAY DEPOSIT CARDS 


Cork Bulletin Board 


Large Bulletin Board 
Push Pins 


Card Illumination Lamp 


Counting and Sizing Card 
Templates 


Measuring Magnifier, 
Data Sheets 


Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners, 
Grease Pencils, Cleaning 
Tissue, Stapler, Note Pads, 
Envelopes, Rubber Bands, 
Paper Clips 


Graph Paper (10 x 10 to the 
Centimeter and Probability 
x 2 Log Cycle) 


Programmable Electronic 
Calculator (Optional) 


Work base for sizing and counting drops 


Tacking card to bulletin board 


High-intensity illumination of counting 
area 


Identification of card area for counting 
and sizing drops 


Counting and sizing drops 


Data recording, data organization 


Graphic data display 


Mathematical calculations 


LT 


ie See ae 


(wd) Y3L3WVIO dOYd 


34 


99.5 


98 99 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 


10 


CUMULATIVE NUMBER DISTRIBUTION (percent) 


Cumulative number distribution for Trial & 


FIGURE 3-7. 


7 


(wo) Y3ZL3WVIG dOUuG 


35 


93.9 


98 99 


90 95 
CUMULATIVE NUMBER DISTRIBUTION (percent) 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


10 


Cumulative number distribution for Trial 7. 


FIGURE 3-8. 


i i aaa 


es 


(wi) yY313WVIO dOYNG 


36 


r 
i ' 
H ' 
H $ 
i f = if 
et ' ' 
‘ i 
t 


99.99 


99.9 


38 99 


90 95 
CUMULATIVE NUMBER DISTRIBUTION (percent) 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


10 


Cumulative number distribution for Trial 9. 


FIGURE 3-9. 


33.92 


39:9 


oo 3 


90° 35 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


0) 


(wi) Y3L3SWVIG dOYG 


37 


CUMULATIVE NUMBER DISTRIBUTION (percent) 


Cumulative number distribution for Trial 11. 


FIGURE 3-10. 


99.99 


33:9 


98 .99 


90 95 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


1) 


(wd) y313WwvIa dOYNG 


38 


CUMULATIVE NUMBER DISTRIBUTION (percent) 


Cumulative number distribution for Trial 18. 


FIGURE 3-11. 


p = density of the spray material 


qd, i = drop diameter representing the lower limit of the ti size 
. category 
h 
d = drop diameter representing the upper limit of the it size 
: category 


The results obtained by applying Equation (3-3) to the drop counts and drop-size data 
for the five trials are shown in Table 3-4. The mass distributions for Trials 6, 7, 


9, 11 and 18 have been plotted on log-probability scales in Figures 3-12 through 3-16. 


The mass median diameter is the drop diameter that divides the spray dis- 
tribution within the swath into two equal parts by mass. The value of the mass median 
diameter for each trial can be determined from Figures 3-12 through 3-16 by noting 
the drop diameter corresponding to the 50-percent point of the cumulative distribu- 
tion and is marked by the symbol + in the figures. Since density is linear with drop 
size, the mass median diameter and volume median diameter (VMD) are equivalent. 
The number median diameters (NMD) and volume median diameters (VMD) obtained 


for the five trials are summarized in Table 3-5. 
a MASS RECOVERY ESTIMATES 
The mass recovered within the swath for each of the five trials was also 


estimated from the estimates of spray deposit density for each of the sampling cards 


P ‘ : t 
in the swath. The mass per unit area (Mj) deposited on the j e card was estimated from 


the relationship 


39 


OF 


TABLE 3-4 


CUMULATIVE MASS DISTRIBUTIONS FOR 
TRIALS 6, 7, 9, 11 AND 12 


Drop-Size Category (1) 


~ 
~ 
i) 


Upper Limit 
Drop Diameter 
(um) 


171,1 212.3 251.08 289.7 


83,77 128.3 171.1 


47.71 


27.64 47.71 \ 
jm 3.134 10.37 22,42 
27.64 47.71 67.90 


Cumulative 
Percent 
by Mass 


67.33 89. 09 97.45 98.60 


Upper Limit 
Drop Diameter 
(um) 


289.7 


a 
N 
~ 
a 


251.8 


79.58 98.09 


Upper Limit 
Drop Diameter 
(um) 
Cumulative 
Percent 

by Mass 


88, 20 108.6 170.5 254. 7 297.5 


37.34 54.72 717.92 90. 73 93. 61 


Upper Limit 
Drop Diameter 
(um) 


129.1 170.5 191.4 


o 
id 
to 
a 


Cumulative 
Percent 
by Mass 


72.65 


98, 05 


55.77 


Upper Limit 
Drop Diameter 
(um) 
Cumulative 


Percent 
by Mass 


149.8 170.5 - | 191.4 212.4 233.5 254.7 


70. 94 83.70 97.93 


np 
Bt 
a 
~ 
a 
Fed 
© 
r—) 

@ 

@ 

nN 

uo 


(wit) 


Y3SLSWVIG dOud 


41 


99 


98 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 935 


10 


CUMULATIVE MASS (percent) 


Cumulative mass distribution for Trial 6. 


FIGURE 3-12. 


ee ee ee eas Jette loss 
es he ae ! 


wwf 


ra RARE (ly ie a 


102 


(wo) YysL3aWVIG 


dOud 


42 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 s0.lUSSllCSSCSD 
CUMULATIVE MASS (percent) 


10 


Cumulative mass distribution for Trial 7. 


FIGURE 3-13. 


98 99 


90 95 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


Eee eee 


i0 


(wh) Y3ZLSWVIC dOYG 


43 


CUMULATIVE MASS (percent) ~ 


14, Cumulative mass distribution for Trial 9. 


FIGURE 3 


(wn) Yy3L3WVIO 


44 


36. 3 


90 35 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


CUMULATIVE MASS (percent) © 


O 


Cumulative mass distribution for Trial 11. 


-15. 


FIGURE 3 


i ppeed they oe 
ma 1 Fi ‘ wee af t ry wh ‘ 
te tptote wheebe Bead fa 8 . 


36 99 


90 95 


20 30 40 50 60 70 80 


CUMULATIVE MASS (percent) 


To) 


cat Eipree nes vee eaten! et Soe ae pi It a a wal Sites ay Ae - Sis ie — 


A Hert ee eae bell bedi pee | 5 pe Oe 1 Pert: ee lag t a Ww 
eaten e ARE 15; eae 7 ea 6 iis 7 ne Oo 


tif benfet bh op B weer ares (0 SE | ile 
{ ' 1 ' ‘ ; ‘ 


(wh) Yy3sL3WVIG dOoXa 


45 


Cumulative mass distribution for Trial 18. 


FIGURE 3-16. 


TABLE 3-5 


NUMBER MEDIAN AND VOLUME MEDIAN 
DIAMETERS IN MICROMETERS 


- Trial Number 


Number 
Median 
Diameter 


(um) 


Volume 
Median 
Diameter 


(4m) 


46 


|r 


I 

M. —4 aaa = 

j A, 2 “a Ga) 
J i= 


where the terms appearing in Equation (3-6) have been defined in Section 2 above. 
The distribution of mass deposition along the sampling lines for Trials 6, 7, 9, 11 
and 18 obtained from Equation (3-6) is shown in Figures 3-17 through 3-21, The 


total mass recovery per unit length of flight path is estimated from the expression 


MR = § s Mj (3-7) 


where 


S = separation distance between cards on the sampling line 


Values of the mass recovered in the swath of the five trials calculated by using 
Equation (3-7) are given in Table 3-6. Table 3-6 also presents estimates of the 
deposition efficiency within the swath. This was calculated by dividing the mass 
recovery by the amount of material released by the aircraft per unit length of the 


flight path and multiplying the result by 100 to obtain units of percent. 


47 


x. ~ — ene Sa ae en eS ee - eee oe ——m 
u i 
i : i t 
; : i 
-4 H ‘a _ 
: 1 
_ Se eee tae pe + SS Se ee nt ee een nee =} _ — 
a ee pee ee en ee er ee _———— $$ $$ 


55 60 65 — 70 
CARD NUMBER 


50 


wW 
t+ 


Mass deposited along the sampling line for Trial 6. 


FIGURE 3-17. 


48 


DEPOSITION (mg m~2) 


103 


102 


FIGURE 3-18. 


CARD NUMBER 


Mass deposited along the sampling line for Trial 7. 


49 


w 6W) NOILISOd3G 


CARD NUMBER 


FIGURE 3-19. Mass deposited along the sampling line for Trial 9. 


10? 


(z-u Bw) NOILISOd3G 


25 3| 37 
CARD NUMBER 


19 


I3 


Mass deposited along the sampling line for Trial 11. 


FIGURE 3-20. 


51 


CARD NUMBER 
Mass deposited along the sampling line for Trial 18. 


FIGURE 3-21. 


52 


Mass 


Recovery 
(g m7}) 


Material 
Disseminated 


(g m7}) 


Deposition 
Efficiency 
(Percent) 


TABLE 3-6 


MASS RECOVERY, MATERIAL DISSEMINATED 
AND DEPOSITION EFFICIENCY 


Trial Number 


53 


SECTION 4 


DEVELOPMENT OF A 
FIELD MANUAL 


As noted in Section 1, the major purposes of this study are to establish 
procedures to achieve reproducible estimates of the deposits on card samplers 
and to establish methods and procedures for the rapid characterization of aircraft 
spray. Section 4.1 below describes the procedures followed in developing the recom- 
mendations contained in the field manual for designing the sampling grid and for set- 
ting meteorological limits. The procedures used in developing the recommendations 
contained in the field manual for analyzing deposit data to obtain spray characteriza- 


tion information are described in Section 4, 2. 
4.1 DESIGNING THE SAMPLING GRID AND OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS 


The decision to recommend inwind aircraft flight patterns rather than cross- 
wind flight patterns for characterizing aircraft spray was reached early in the study. 
It was evident from the beginning that only a limited number of cards could be ana- 
lyzed to obtain a rapid quantitative estimate of volume and number median diameters 
and the mass deposited in an effective swath width. A brief consideration of sampling 
requirements for crosswind flights relative to those for inwind flights shows that 
inwind flights are better suited for spray characterization trials. In the absence of 
atmospheric and aircraft turbulence, a drop with settling velocity V released ata 
height H above the ground will impact at the distance x downwind from the point 


of release equal to 


{= == (4-1) 


54 


where U is the mean wind speed in the layer between the ground and height H. For 
a release height of 50 feet (15.24 meters), a wind speed of 5 miles per hour (2. 24 
meters per second), a 20-micrometer drop with a settling velocity of 0.0394 feet 
per second (.012 meters per second) will impact at a distance of about 1.8 miles 
(2838 meters) from the point of release. A 200-micrometer drop with a settling 
velocity of 2.3 feet per second (0.7 meters per second) released under the same 
conditions will impact at about 160 feet from the release point. The presence of 
atmospheric and aircraft-induced turbulence or downdrafts will cause some of the 
20- and 200-micrometer drops contained in a spray cloud to impact at distances 
closer to the point of release. Nevertheless, sampling lines must extend for rela- 
tively long downwind distances to ensure that the full drop spectrum is sampled if 
the material is released from an aircraft traveling crosswind. With tawind flights, 
the 20- and 200-micrometer drops travel the same distances, but when the aircraft 
crosses the sampling line and continues upwind from sulficient distances, drops of 
all sizes are transported by the wind to the sampling line. The sampling line for 
inwind releases need only be long enough to contain the effective minimum swath 
width so that mass per unit area, mass recovery and minimum swath width can be 
specified. As shown below, the crosswind extent of the sampling lines required for 


these purposes is relatively small. 


The requisite lengths of the aircraft release line upwind of the sampling 


line and the sampling line itself can be estimated using dispersion-deposition model- 
ing techniques. Ground-level deposition downwind from an instantaneous elevated 


point source can be expressed by the following relationship (Cramer, et al., 1972) 


55 


where 


oD) 
" 


source strength 
H = release height 


o' = standard deviation of the wind azimuth angle in radians 
= standard deviation of the wind elevation angle in radians 


x = downwind distance from the source 


V = settling velocity of a drop 


el 
| 


mean wind speed 


y = lateral distance from the cloud centerline 


The cloud growth in the lateral and vertical is assumed rectilinear with distance 
from the source. The deposition at a point due to that portion of an inwind line 
source extending a distance (RL) upwind of the point can be obtained by integrating 


Equation (4-2) from x=0 to x=RL. Thus, 


RL 
Dep' = i Dep dx (4-3) 
0 
Under the assumption that aN = oF, , the above expression becomes 
2 2 
a Q'H /2n HV Vv H 
Dep!) 2 SS ae NOD I eee -1 (4-4) 
on (H7 + “) : 2 o/2 gq'? a H?+ 
y 20,01 (H ty ) E " 


(Equation (4-4) continued on 
following page. ) 


56 


(Equation (4-4) continued. ) 


1/2 
= (eas) 7 HV 
oT (RL) e.g 
= oa (H ty’) 
E 
2 2 
Vv 
fom gee agg = ee) 
20. UW NE ty 
; g 
+y i 
em | He (Ge w | 
2c! BL) a(n + ) 


where the source strength Q' is expressed as the amount of material released per 
unit line length. Equation (4-4) can be used to estimate the length of the release 
line (RL) required to ensure that deposition at the point remains nearly constant 
as the length (RL) is increased. For example, Figure 4-1 shows deposition at a 
point for release lines upwind of the point of various lengths using the following 


inputs in Equation (4-4) 


Q' = 1 gram per meter 
oF = 0.04363 radians (2.5 degrees) 
u = 4 meters per second 
H = 30 meters 
y = 0 meters 
V = 0.028, 0.08, 0.23, 0.48 meters per second 


where the settling velocities V are for spherical drops of unit density corresponding 


to approximate diameters of 30, 50, 90 and 150 micrometers. 


57 


DEPOSITION (g m~2) 


4 6 8 10> 2 


LENGTH OF RELEASE LINE (meters) 


FIGURE 4-1. Ground-level deposition as a function of the upwind length of the 
release line. 


58 


Inspection of Figure 4-1 shows that, for a 30-micromcter drop (V=0, 028 
meters per second), the deposition at the point does not increase appreciably 
after the release line length is about 100H (3000 meters) or longer. On the other 
hand, deposition does not increase for a 150-micrometer drop (V=.48 meters per 
second) after the inwind release line length is about 400 meters or more upwind 
of the point. Similar curves were plotted for other release heights and for meteor- 
ological input parameters expected during characterization trials. Based on an 
analysis of these data and the experience gained during the Townsend trials, the 


following general guidelines were developed for use in the field manual: 


@ If most of the spray cloud mass is contained in drops with 
diameters 50 micrometers or less and wind speeds u 
are 4 meters per second or less, the length of the release 
line RL upwind of the sampling grid should be about 
100 times the aircraft altitude H (RL =100H). 


e If most of the spray cloud mass is contained in drops 
with diameters between 50 and 100 micrometers and 
u is equal to or less than 4 meters per second, RL 


should be about 70 H. 


® If most of the spray cloud mass is contained in drops with 
diameters greater than 100 micrometers and wu is equal 
to or less than 4 meters per second, RL should be 


equal to 35H. 


It should be mentioned that the above estimates of the length of the release line are 
conservative in the sense that shorter line lengths upwind of the sampling grids 
might be satisfactory. Aircraft-induced turbulence and wake effects and the fact 
that the aircraft-generated spray cloud has an initial vertical dimension of at least 


several meters all act to decrease the required length of the upwind release line. 


59 


Equation (4-4) can also be used to estimate the length L of the crosswind 
sampling line required to contain the swath. Figure 4-2 is a plot of the crosswind 
deposition profile at the sampling line for an inwind release line length of 3000 
meters (100H), a settling velocity of 0.028 meters per second, an aircraft altitude 
of 30 meters, source strength of 1 gram per meter, and values of oF equal to 
2.5 and 5 degrees. The abcissa is labeled in units of nH, where y in Equation 
(4-4) has been set to nH. Inspection of Figure 4-2 shows that deposition at a cross- 
wind distance of + 3H (£90 meters) is nearly a factor of 10 less than at the center 
of the swath. Thus, a crosswind sampling line length equal to 6H would ensure that 
about 90 percent by mass of deposition from a spray cloud comprised of 30-micro- 
meter drops would be contained within the sampling line. The deposition for drops 
of large diameter decreases more rapidly in the lateral or crosswind direction. For 
this reason, more than 90 percent by mass of deposition from clouds comprised of 
drops 30 micrometers and greater would be contained within a swath width of 6H. A 
crosswind line length L equal to 10H is recommended for use in the field manual to 
allow for some error in the aircraft crossing the sampling grid at the center of the 


sampling line. 


From 10 to 20 samplers should be in the swath to adequately define the 
crosswind deposition profile. If, for example, we require that 15 samplers be 
within the crosswind sampling length 6H, then the requisite sampler spacing S is 


- = 0.4H (4-5) 


Since the recommended length of the sampling line L is 10H, a total of 25 samplers 
should be used on each sampling line. The trials at Townsend indicated that a sam- 
pler spacing of 0,4H is more than adequate; a value of S=0.4H is therefore recom- 


mended in the field manual. Thus, for an aircraft release height of 30 meters, the 


60 


a 
Se 
Re 
2 
2. 
= .. 
n 
= 
Be 
WW 
Bun. 


-4H -3H ah =F O H 2H 3H 4H 
CROSSWIND WIDTH (meters) 


FIGURE 4-2. Crosswind deposition for an upwind release line length of 100H, H= 
30 meters and V=0. 028 meters per second. The dashed line is for 
oO, = 2.5 degrees and the solid line is for o,=5 degrees. 


61 


recommended sampling line length is 300 meters with a sampler spacing of 12 


meters along the line. 


Inspection of Figure 2-1 shows that the sampling lines on the Townsend 
trials were approximately in the shape of an equilateral triangle. While it was not 
recognized at the time, a grid design in the shape of an equilateral triangle is 
ideally suited for spray characterization trials, since this design can accommo- 
date large variations in wind directions without introducing large errors in the 
analysis of sampler card data. Figure 4-3 is a diagram of the sampling design 
recommended in the field manual. Inspection of Figure 4-3 shows that this design 
tends to limit the angle between the aircraft flight path (flown into the wind) and a 
sampling line to 90 + 30 degrees. An example of the flexibility of the grid design 
for use with various wind directions is shown in Figure 4-4. If north is assumed 
toward the top of Figure 4-4, sampling line A in Figure 4-4 can be used for all 
winds from 150 through 210 degrees and from 330 through 30 degrees. Sampling 
line B in Figure 4-4 can be used for all winds from 30 through 90 degrees and 
from 210 through 270 degrees; similarly, sampling line C in igure 4-4 can be 
used for all winds from 90 through 150 degrees and from 270 degrees through 330 
degrees. The choice of the proper flight path for any given trial depends on the 


mein wind direction measurements made just prior to conduct of the trial. 


High wind speeds and high levels of ambient atmospheric turbulence are 
not conditions recommended for conducting spray characterization trials for several 
reasons. First, high winds and turbulence levels require the inwind release line be 
extended to much longer upwind distances from the sampling lines and also require 
longer sampling lines. Second, the consequent enhanced downwind spray drift 
results in decreased deposition in the swath and possibly may cause the spotting of 
cars and other objects outside the sampling grid area. For these reasons, the 
recommendation is made in the field manual to conduct spray characterization 


trials when mean wind speeds are less than 4 meters per second (9 miles per hour) 


62 


A le —»1S=0.4H 


FIGURE 4-3, Simple equilateral triangle sampling grid for characterizing aircraft 
spray. The length of the sides L are 10 times the aircraft flight 
altitude H and the sampler spacing S is 0. 4H. 


63 


a0 300 
270° 90° =. 270° 90° 
we “00 
C 
se 300 
A 
Oo wo 


FIGURE 4-4. Illustration of the use of the sampling lines of the grid design shown 
in Figure 4-3 with winds from various directions. 


64 


2 


and when ambient turbulence levels are moderate or low. Section 3.2.3 of the field 
manual is reproduced in Appendix A and contains a description of a visual method, 

using smoke from smoke grenades, for judging ambient turbulence levels. Section 
3.2.3 of Appendix A also contains procedures for determining the sampling line for 


use in the trial from wind direction measurements. 
4.2 ANALYSIS OF SAMPLING CARD DATA 


The second major purpose of this study was to establish methods and pro- 
cedures and to recommend equipment to enable two or three persons to obtain 
quantitative estimates of spray deposit density, volume median diameter, number 
median diameter, mass deposition and the minimum effective swath width from the 
sampling data within 5 hours after flight time. The basis of the recommendations 
for accomplishing these objectives made in the field manual is discussed in the 


following paragraphs. 


Spray Deposit Density 


The density of drops deposited on the sampling cards can only be quantita- 
tively estimated by counting the stains, using a suitable magnifying instrument and 
template to mark the area to be counted. As noted in Section 3.1, difficulty was 
encountered in obtaining similar and unbiased estimates of spray deposit density 
using two analysts during the post-trial analysis. Although no definite conclusion 
cou'd be drawn from the brief study performed, it appeared that the difficulties 
occurred because different areas of the cards were counted by the analysts and 
because different estimates of the number of drops with stains less than 50 micro- 
meters in diameter were obtained. For this reason, the Bausch and Lomb No. 
81-34-35 measuring magnifier is recommended for use only when drops having 


stain diameters less than 50 micrometers are not of major interest. Also, the 


65 


template for use in the counting procedure was redesigned so that the same area 
would be counted by the analysts. Since the estimation of spray deposit density by 
counting stains is usually mastered with only limited experience and proceeds 
rather rapidly, the field manual contains the recommendation that spray deposit 
density be estimated by counting a minimum of 200 stains on each of the sampling 


cards within the swath. 


Volume Median Diameter 


Two methods were used for obtaining 'quick-look" estimates of the VMD 
while in the field immediately following a trial: the direct-estimation method sug- 
gested by Mr. McIntyre and the D-max method suggested by Maksymiuk (1964). The 
results obtained from these two procedures are discussed in Section 2.5 and sum- 
marized in Table 2-2. In general, the D-max method yielded larger-diameter esti- 
mates than the direct-estimation procedure. Table 4-1 shows a comparison of VMD 
estimates obtained in the field using these two procedures with similar estimates 
made during the post-trial analysis from the cumulative mass distributions. Table 
4-1 indicates that, except for Trials 6 and 7, the D-max method employed during 
the post-trial analysis yields VMD estimates slightly larger than VMD's obtained 
from the cumulative mass distribution curves for the trials. On the other hand, the 
direct-estimation method tends to yield estimates of VMD that are lower than VMD's 
from the cumulative mass distributions, except for Trial 6. Because the D-max 
method is considerably easier for untrained personnel to apply, it is recommended 
in the field manual for estimating VMD's in the field for a "quick-look" analysis 


immediately after a trial has been conducted. 


Prior to the field trials at Townsend, it was hoped that simple transforma- 
tion formulas, based on the assumption that the drop diameters were log-normally 
distributed, could be used to obtain average mass and number median diameters 


from estimates of the volume median diameter made using either the direct-estima- 


66 


TABLE 4-1 


ESTIMATES OF VOLUME MEDIAN DIAMETERS (um) FROM 
THE FIELD AND POST-TRIAL ANALYSES 


Trial Field D-max Method Cumulative 
Number Direct- 


Mass 
Estimation Post-Trial Distribution 


236 
206 
155 
149 


67 


tion or D-max techniques. The results of the post-trial analysis indicated, how- 
ever, that such relationships were very sensitive to the geometric standard devia- 
tions of the drop distributions and that the geometric standard deviations could not 
be estimated for different spray materials with sufficient accuracy without measur- 
ing the mass or number distribution. For this reason, we believe drop-size dis- 
tributions of the spray deposit are required. Measurement of the mass distribu- 


tion should also yield more quantitative estimates of the VMD for a given trial. 


Because of the limitation on time and personnel for analyzing the card data, 
the decision was made to investigate means of reducing the number of cards analyzed 
and the consequent effect on estimates of VMD. Experience in analyzing the card 
data during the post-trial period indicated that two relatively inexperienced analysts 
could count and size drops as well as calculate the mass distribution, using 3 to 5 
_ eards in the swath, within 5 hours after flight time. Table 4-2 shows VMD's esti- 
mated from the mass distribution obtained by analyzing 3, 5 and all the cards in the 
swath, The total number of cards in the swath is also shown in the table. The 3 
cards used in the analysis were selected from the center and the two ends of the 
swath. When 5 cards were used, 2 additional cards located midway between the 
center card and the ends of the swath were analyzed. As Table 4-2 shows, VMD's 
estimated by obtaining the mass distributions from 5 cards were very similar to 
those obtained using all the cards, the maximum error of 5. 8 percent occurring in 


Trial 11. 


Number Median Diameter 


Number median diameters estimated from the number distribution from 
all cards in the swath and from 5 cards in the swath are given in Table 4-3. The 
data presented in Table 4-3 show that number median diameters obtained from an 
analysis of 5 cards in the swath are very similar to those obtained by analyzing all 


cards in the swath. 


68 


TABLE 4-2 


VOLUME MEDIAN DIAMETERS ESTIMATED FROM 
THE MASS DISTRIBUTION FROM 3, 5 
AND ALL CARDS IN THE SWATH 


Trial Total Number Volume Median Diameters (um) 


Number of Cards 
in Swath All Cards 3 Cards 


210 


69 


TABLE 4-3 


NUMBER MEDIAN DIAMETERS ESTIMATED FROM THE 
NUMBER DISTRIBUTION FROM 5 CARDS AND 
ALL CARDS IN THE SWATH 


Trial Number Median Diameter (lm) 


70 


Average Mass Diameter 


Estimates of the average mass diameter (AMD) are used in the recommended 
field procedure for estimation of mass recovery in the swath. Table 4-4 gives values 
of the average mass diameters estimated from the mass distribution obtained by 


analyzing 3, 5 and all cards within the swath. 


Mass Recovery Estimates 


Because in many cases all sampling cards within the swath cannot be ana- 
lyzed for mass deposition, the following procedure is recommended in the field 
manual for estimating mass recovery in the swath. The mass in milligrams assoc- 
iated with the average mass diameter drop, estimated from the analysis of the mass 


distribution on 5 cards within the swath, is calculated from the expression 


m = 5,236x10~° p (AMD)° (4-5) 


where the units of AMD are micrometers and the density of the spray material p 
is in grams per cubic centimeter. The AMD for the swath is assumed representa- 
tive of the AMD for each card in the swath. The mass per unit area deposited on 


th 
the j card in the swath (Mj) is then estimated from the expression 
~ 
M, (mgcm ) = mN (4-6) 
where 


N. = spray deposit density for the ia card in the swath 


71 


TABLE 44 


AVERAGE MASS DIAMETERS ESTIMATED FROM THE 
MASS DISTRIBUTION FROM 3, 5 AND 
ALL CARDS IN THE SWATH 


Average Mass Diameter (4m) 


Trial 


nner All Cards 


72 


The estimated mass recovered in the swath MR in units of grams per meter is 


thus 


-1 
MR(gm) = 108 )) (4-7) 


where S is the sampler separation distance in meters. 


Mass recoveries using the above procedure based on the analysis of data 


from 5 cards are compared with mass recoveries estimated from the mass depos- 
ited on all cards within the swath in Table 4-5, The largest estimation error occurs 
for Trial 7 where the 5-card analysis procedure overestimates the mass recovery 


estimate from all cards in the swath by 27 percent. 


It should be noted that the mass recovery estimates in Table 4-5 are based 
on the analysis of sampling cards designated as being within the swath, where the 
swath width was specified, except for Trial 7, as the distance between sampling 
cards on the sampling line showing spray deposit densities greater than 20 drops 
per square centimeter. For Trial 7, the flight altitude was 50 feet higher than 
during the other trials and resulted in a lower spray deposit density over a greater 
distance along the sampling line. The swath width for Trial 7 was specified as the 
distance between sampling cards on the sampling line showing spray deposit den- 
sities greater than about 12 drops per square centimeter. Thus, even though spray 
deposit density within the swath for Trial 7 was less, for example, than for Trial 6, 
the mass recovery for Trial 7 is greater than for Trial 6 because the swath is about 


four times as wide. 


The higher percentage error made in estimating mass recovery from the 


5-card analysis procedure for Trial 7 may be a combined result of the lower spray 


73 


TABLE 4-5 


MASS RECOVERIES ESTIMATED FROM THE MASS DISTRIBUTION 
FROM 5 AND ALL CARDS IN THE SWATH 


Mass Recovery (g m7) 


74 


deposit density and the fact that a lower percentage of cards in the swath (5 of 31 


total cards) were analyzed than in the case of other trials. 


Summary 


Rapid estimates of the minimum swath width and spray deposit density 
within the swath can be made in the field immediately after the aircraft flight by 
counting stains on one sampling card on each end of the sampling line. Rapid esti- 
mation of the volume median diameters using the D-max method is recommended 


for use in the field. 


Results of the post-trial analysis of data from 5 of the Townsend trials 
indicates that quantitative estimates of the volume median, number median and 
average mass diameters can be developed within a 5-hour period after flight time 
from cumulative mass and number distributions based on the analysis of 5 cards 
within the swath. Errors in estimating these parameters from an analysis of 5 
rather than all cards in the swath were less than 10 percent. Thus, procedures 
for estimating the volume median, number median and average mass diameters 


from the analysis of 5 sampling cards are recommended in the field manual. 


As might be expected from the cubic relationship between drop diameter 
and mass recovery and the other approximations used in the 5-card analysis pro- 
cedure, percentage errors in estimating mass recovery using this procedure are 
greater than experienced in estimating the other spray characteristics. However, 
because the analysis of trial data must be completed on a timely basis, the 5-card 
analysis procedure is recommended for use in the field manual in estimating mass 


recovery. 


75 


RETERENCES 


Cramer, H. E., etal., 1972: Development of dosage models and concepts, Final 
Report under Contract DAAD09-67-C-0020(R) with the U. S. Army. Des- 


ert Test Center Report DITC-TR-72-609, Ft. Douglas, Utah. 
Maksymiuk, Bohdan, 1964: A rapid method for estimating the atomization of oil- 


base aerial sprays. Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 57, No. 1, 
p- 16. 


76 


Section 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 


Title 
INTRODUCTION 


1.1 Background 
1.2 Study Objectives 
1.3 Report Contents 


DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSEND SPRAY CHAR- 
ACTERIZATION TRIALS 


2.1 Design of the Sampling Grid for the Townsend 
Trials 
2 Stain Factors 
3 Field Analysis Procedures 
-4 Meteorological Data 
5 Field Laboratory Analysis Procedures 


POST-TRIAL ANALYSIS 


3.1 Determination of Spray Deposit Densities on 
Sampling Cards and Swath Width 

3.2 Determination of Drop-Size Distribution by 
Number and Mass Number Median and Volume 
Median Diameters 

3.3 Mass Recovery Estimates 


DEVELOPMENT OF A FIELD MANUAL 
4.1 Designing the Sampling Grid and Operational 


Considerations 
4.2 Analysis of Sampling Card Data 


REFERENCES 


P age 


co Cc 


20 


22 


31 
39 


54 


54 
65 


76 


Appendix 


TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 
Title 
FIELD MANUAL FOR CHARACTERIZING SPRAY 
FROM SMALL AIRCRAFT 


WIND MEASUREMENTS 


FIELD LABORATORY ESTIMATES OF SPRAY 
DEPOSIT DENSITIES 


ii 


Page 


C-1 


SECTION 1 
INTRODUCTION 


} ee BACKGROUND 


The U. S. Forest Service utilizes contractor-supplied and -operated air- 
craft for the aerial application of pesticides during most forest spray projects. The 
effective utilization of aircraft spray systems requires, among other things, that 
basic parameters affecting spray deposit patterns such as flow rate, drop-size dis- 
tribution and aircraft altitude be accurately adjusted for each spray operation. There 
are a number of important logistical constraints affecting the field measurements of 
spray pattern characteristics. For example, because of cost factors, the spray air- 
craft is normally scheduled to be available at the site of the spray project only a few 
days prior to the commencement of spray operations. Thus, the time available for 


quantifying spray characteristics and making any required adjustments is very short. 


In recognition of the need to develop quantitative field procedures for the 
rapid characterization of spray patterns, the Methods Application Group (MAG) and 
the Missoula Equipment Development Center (MEDC), Forest Service, USDA, init- 
iated a field program in conjunction with the Northern Region 1976 Pilot Project to 
develop and evaluate spray characterization procedures. A contractor, the H. E. 
Cramer Company, Inc. assisted MEDC in the development and evaluation of these 


during the Northern Region 1976 Pilot Project. 


1.2 STUDY OBJECTIVES 


The specific objectives of the work performed for MEDC by the H. E. 


Cramer Company were to: 


(1) 


(2) 


(3) 


The factors to 


terizing small 


Establish procedures to achieve reproducible deposits on 
deposit card samplers and to estimate the number of spray 
drops per square centimeter, volume median diameter, 
number median diameter, mass per unit area and mini- 
mum effective swath width from deposit card sampler 


data. 


Establish methods and procedures and recommend the 
equipment required to enable two or three persons to 
complete the characterization of aircraft spray within 


5 hours following a field trial. 


Evaluate the methods, procedures and equipment used in 
the Northern Region 1976 Pilot Project at Townsend, 


Montana. 


be considered in the development of a field methodology for charac- 


aircraft spray included the following: 


Advantages of inwind flight patterns versus crosswind 


flight patterns 


Meteorological limitations imposed on the conduct of 


field trials 
Optimum flight altitude of the aircraft 
Minimization of grid sampler requirements 


Optimum arrangement of card samplers 


® The times or points at which the aircraft spray system 
should be turned on and turned off during a characteriza- 


tion flight 


1.3 REPORT CONTENTS 


This technical report describes the spray characterization trials conducted 
during the Northern Region 1976 Pilot Project at Townsend, Montana; the post-trial 
analysis of the sampler card and meteorological data obtained during the Townsend 
trials; and, the background for the development of the field manual for character- 
izing spray from small aircraft. Section 2 below describes the characterization 
trials at Townsend, including the design of the sampling grid as well as the ''quick- 
look" field analysis and field laboratory analysis of the sampler card data. The pro- 
cedures used in the post-trial data analysis and the results of this analysis are » 
described in Section 3. Section 4 presents the detailed background of the develop- 
ment of the field manual for characterizing spray aircraft. There are three appen- 
dices to the report. The "Field Manual for Characterizing Spray from Small Air- 
craft" developed as a result of this study is reproduced in Appendix A. Appendix 
B contains summary tables of wind direction and wind speed measured during the 
characterization trials. Estimates of the spray deposit density made during the 
laboratory analysis of all sampler cards in the spray swath at Townsend are con- 


tained in Appendix C. 


SECTION 2 


DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSEND 
SPRAY CHARACTERIZATION 
TRIALS 


The Townsend spray characterization trials were conducted from 27 through 
30 June, 1976, in an area north of Townsend adjacent to the Silos Recreation Area, 
using a Bell 205 helicopter equipped for aerial spray applications. As shown in 
Table 2-1, there were a total of 19 trials. An Orthene mix was used in 8 trials 
while a Dylox mix was used in the remaining 11 trials. The Orthene was prepared 
for spraying by using 1.33 pounds of Orthene, 0.01 pounds of Rhodamine B dye and | 
0. 885 gallons of water to make one gallon of spray. One-half gallon of Dylox liquid, 
0.48 gallon of Hi Sol 4-5-T solvent and 0.02 gallon of Automate Red B dye were used 
to make one gallon of the Dylox spray mix. As noted in Table 2-1, the aircraft 
flight altitude was 50 feet above the ground in all trials except Trial 7, where the 
flight altitude was 100 feet. Eight Beecomist spray heads were used in the first 11 
trials and in Trial 14. Four heads were placed on the booms on each side of the hel- 
icopter at distances of 8, 14, 20 and 24 feet from the centerline of the helicopter. 
Four Beecomist spray heads were used in Trials 12 and 13, two on each side of the 
helicopter at distances of 8, 14, 20 and 24 feet from the centerline of the aircraft. 
The Beecomist spray heads were calibrated at the site to deliver a total of 36.4 gal- 
lons per minute of Orthene and 18.2 gallons per minute of Dylox, regardless of the 
number of heads used. A total of 31 Spraying Systems Flat Fan Spray Tip Nozzles 
No. 8006 were used on Trial 15; the nozzles were equally spaced with 16 nozzles on 
the right spray boom and 15 on the left spray boom. Nineteen Spraying Systems Flat 
Fan Spray Tip Nozzles No. 8010 were used on the remaining trials with 10 nozzles 
equally spaced on the right boom and 9 on the left boom. The flat fan nozzles were 
not field calibrated for flow rate, but were set to deliver a total flow rate of 18,2 
gallons per minute of Dylox, according to factory specifications, for each of the 


trials. 


TABLE 2-1 


BASIC SPRAY DATA FOR THE TOWNSEND 
CHARACTERIZATION TRIALS 


Total 

Spray Spray Flow 

Material Nozzles Rate 
(gal min™ 


Aircraft 
Height 


(ft) 1) 


Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 
Orthene 8 Beecomist 


Orthene 8 Beecomist 


uo ao vr on Fr WO NY FE 


Dylox 8 Beecomist 


ry 
Oo 


Dylox 8 Beecomist 


— 
H 


Dylox 8 Beecomist 


iw) 


Dylox 4 Beecomist 


- 
co 


Dylox 4 Beecomist 


4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
.2 
2 
As 
ae 
2 
2 


i 
is 


Dylox 8 Beecomist 


31 Flat Fan 


1 a No. 8006 


19 Flat Fan 


ac No. 8010 


19 Flat Fan 


a No. 8010 


19 Flat Fan 
No. 8010 


19 Flat Fan 
No. 8010 


Dylox 


Dylox 


*Approximate time of trial (actual time not recorded but known to be within the hour 
following Trial No. 7). 


Because the spray lines were not purged of water for Trial 1, the sampler 
cards for Trial 1 were not analyzed. Also, it was noted that the flat fan nozzles 
used on Trial 16 were oriented at various angles to the horizontal. In the subse- 
quent trials, the nozzle attitudes were changed so that the 6 tips on the outboard 
section of the right boom and 5 tips on the outboard section of the left boom were 
directed straight down (90 degrees to the horizontal), The remaining 4 tips on the 
inboard section of the left and right booms were oriented forward and down at an 


angle of 45 degrees from the horizontal. 


All trials were conducted with the helicopter flying into the wind except 
for Trial 8, where the flight path was crosswind. The helicopter flew at an air 


speed of 90 miles per hour on all trials. 


2.1 DESIGN OF THE SAMPLING GRID FOR THE TOWNSEND TRIALS 


Figure 2-1 shows a map of the sampling grid which was located north of 
Townsend in a large field between Montana Highway 12 and the Silos Recreation Area 
just east of the shore of Canyon Ferry Lake. It should be noted that sampling line C 
was moved to the position shown in Figure 2-1 prior to Trial 5. For the first four 
trials, sampling line C was oriented north-south with its northern extremity at the 
middle of sampling line B. The final grid configuration shown in Figure 2-1 was 
designed to take advantage of the wind directions expected to occur over the site 
during the characterization trials in which the helicopter released material while 
flying into the wind. Sampling line A was nominally oriented east-west for use when 
the wind directions were either up- or down-valley parallel to the shoreline of Can- 
yon Ferry Lake. Sampling line B was oriented southwest-northeast for use when the 
winds were downslope through a pass located northwest of the site. Sampling Line C 
was moved to the location shown in Figure 2-1 after it became evident that advantage 
should be taken of the weak downslope flow from the mountains west of the site and 


weak upslope flow from Canyon Ferry Lake. 


Bench Mark R/W 


HIGHWAY 12 
_______. JL OLD ABANDONED HIGHWAY 


ee eH HH % eee 
*" RENCE 


* 


S x 
————— * 
* 
359° 0° Si|* 
511.4 500.3' o |x 
Si le 
\ N 
* 
“a! 5 —— * 
N - 
ft “3 
212 Fr, | Dar 
W 
ols olm eit 0 
| ud Fe) 
| = 2 
| er 
\ | |* 
did 
Qi l* 
ad A 
A ol|* 
a * 
oO} |* 
File 
Qi lx 
@ BECKMAN SI ly 
gw WHITLEY ke @ CLIMATRONICS | ee 
Sev ~ ike 
o Pie pare 
peg * | 
ee * 
Ng Kk 
N&, 
“wtvo 
54° : oe: 
9562 a Reterence frolnt . 
° as .o. Genera an 
7 ee @ HOT FILM ANEMOMETER be Office Marker). Used: 
CONTEL 3 — as Control Point along 
___TETHERSONDE @ 438 eae” Se a Ak Seen, See 
Sh WE ATR TR WRT ET METI RRR ER TTR RERE RR  % 
re) 500 FEET l ; FENCE NV RSS 
1700 — AIRSTRIP — 
7s’ 


FIGURE 2-1. Schematic diagram of the sampling grid for the Townsend spray characterization trials. Dimen- 
sions are in feet. 


2.2 STAIN FACTORS 


The following equations for converting the diameters of stains observed on 
Kromekote cards, used in the Townsend Trials, to diameters of the drops impacting 
on the cards were obtained in a laboratory analysis conducted by the Department of 
Agricultural Engineering, University of California, Davis Campus, under contract to 


MAG: 


Orthene Spray 


y = =8,9%10 x" # 0.47% + 37,6 (2-1) 
Dylox Spray 
-6 2 : 
y = 5.73x10 x + 0.199x + 7.68 (2-2) 


where 
y = drop diameter in micrometers 


x = stain diameter in micrometers 


A separate study conducted by John Barry and Lynne Whitcombe of MAG showed that 
no significant increase in stain diameters occurred beyond 5 minutes of elapsed time 


after drop impact on the sampler cards. 


2.3 FIELD ANALYSIS PROCEDURES 


A "quick-look" field analysis to estimate volume median drop diameter and 
swath width for each trial was initiated in the field 5 to 10 minutes after drops from 
the spray cloud were no longer impacting on the Kromekote cards. A "direct-esti- 


mation" method was used to estimate the characteristic volume median diameter 


od 


(VMD) for each trial. The D-max procedure developed by Maksymiuk (1964), 
although suitable for use as a "quick-look"' method and applied after some trials 
in the field, was used more frequently in the field laboratory analysis and is 


described in Section 2.4 below. 


The direct-estimation procedure was suggested for use in estimating VMD's 
for the Townsend Trials and was used with success by Mr. William McIntyre, Dug- 
way Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah. Mr. McIntyre has developed the talent of 
observing a drop-stained card and visually selecting the stain representing the VMD 
for agiven card. As might be expected from the cubic relationship between the 
diameter and volume of a sphere, the drop stain representing the VMD is slightly 
larger than the average size of stains appearing on the card. Prior to and during 
the Townsend Trials, Mr. McIntyre trained two personnel from the H. E. Cramer 
Company in applying his visual estimation technique. It appears that about one week 
of working with an experienced instructor and drop-stained cards is required to 
become proficient in estimating the VMD using this technique. The major drawback 
of the method is that training is required before confidence can be placed in the VMD 
estimates. The major advantage is that, once the technique is mastered, VMD esti- 


mates are rapidly obtained. 


In the Townsend Trials, the VMD was estimated in the field using the direct- 
estimation technique and a sampler card from the swath on the sampling line most 
nearly perpendicular to the aircraft flight path. The card was selected by walking 
along the card line and visually observing the density of stains on each card and 
selecting one card from the line judged to be of the density in the center of the swath. 
Usually, the card selected was near the center of the swath. The direct-estimation 
technique was then used to choose the stain on the selected card which represented 
the VMD. The diameter of the stain was measured to the nearest 50 micrometers 
using a Bausch and Lomb measuring magnifier (Catalog No. 80-34-35) with 100- 


micrometer divisions. The appropriate stain-drop relationship described in Sec- 


tion 2.2 was applied and the VMD field estimate entered on a form similar to the 
example 'Rapid Inspection Data Sheet" shown in Figure 2-2. The swath width was 
also visually estimated in a similar manner by selecting the first cards from either 
end of the swath where the stain density became uniform. The VMD for these cards 
was estimated using the procedure outlined above. The average mass diameter (AMD) 
was estimated using the following expression, which assumes that the drop-size dis- 


tribution is log-normally distributed: 
2 
In (AMD) = In(VMD) - 1.5 1n o, (2-3) 


where 


a = geometric standard deviation of the drop-size distribution 


An assessment of sampling card data from previous trials conducted by the Forest 
Service using Bell 205 helicopters showed that a value for 2 of 1.5 was best suited 
for use in the Townsend Trials. It should be noted that the relationship between AMD 
and VMD is sensitive to the value of a For this reason and because the distribu- 
tion is often not strictly log-normal, this procedure is not recommended for use in 
the field manual given in Appendix A. The mass of the AMD drop in milligrams m 


(Drop Mass in Figure 2-2) was obtained from the relationship 


Th = 7p (AMD) _ x 10°” (2-4) 


where 


p = density of the spray material in grams per cubic centimeter 


10 


ET 


Test 2 Air Speed 90 mph Spray Material Orthene 


Date/Time 27 June 76/0715 MDT Flow Rate 36.4 gal min - Material Density 1.044 
Aircraft 205 Flight Level 50 feet Row Number B 


=—=S=°3:33=eeN— SSS 


Card Number for VMD 61 
Estimated VMD: Stain 450 um Actual 232 um 


SWATH WIDTH 


Left Card Number Right Card Number 
VMD: Stain 250um Actual 150um VMD: Stain _600um Actual _290um 
Average Mass Drop Diameter 117 um Average Mass Drop Diameter 226 um 


Drop Mass 8s 1X "ie mg Drop Mass 6.3 x 107° mg 


Number of Drops 240 Number of Drops 65 


Density 131 mg m~" Density 255 mg oy 


FIGURE 2-2, Rapid Inspection Data Sheet used in the field at Townsend trials to estimate VMD and swath width. 


As indicated in Figure 2-1, each line was greater than 1000 feet in length. 
A dispersion-modeling experiment prior to the start of the trials indicated that a 
sampler spacing of 10 feet would be more than adequate to ensure that at least 10 to 
20 cards would be included within the expected swath width. For this reason, sam- 
pler card positions were marked at 10-foot intervals along all three sampling lines. 
For the first four trials, the sampling cards were mounted in plastic holders on 
metal stakes about 1.5 feet above the ground. This procedure was used because it 
is often more convenient to elevate the cards above surrounding grass clumps and 
other obstructions and because a previous experiment conducted by MEDC with a 
different spray material had indicated that there was no significant difference between 
characterization parameters measured on elevated cards and cards placed on the 
ground. After the first five trials, it became evident that the narrow elongated drop 
stains were due to the wind transport of the drops causing them to impact on the 
elevated cards at an oblique angle. In Trial 5, stains on cards placed on the ground 
in cleared areas close to a few elevated samplers on the stakes were nearly circular, 
probably because wind speeds close to the ground are light and the trajectory of the 
drops was more nearly perpendicular to the ground. The sampling cards in their 
plastic holders were placed on the ground in cleared areas next to the metal stakes 
on all succeeding trials. The sampling positions were numbered sequentially on 
each sampling line starting at the east end of line A, the northeast end of line B, 


and the north end of line C. 


Climatronics Corporation and Beckman-Whitley sensors were used at the 
positions shown in Figure 2-1 to measure wind direction and wind speed at 2 meters 
above the ground. Measurements of wind direction, wind speed, temperature and 
relative humidity were made to altitudes of 100 feet using a balloon-borne sensor 
(tethersonde) and associated recording equipment, manufactured by Contel Corpora- 
tion, at the position shown at the east end of sampling line B. A hot-film anemometer 
held aloft by a pilot balloon was used at a position near the east end of sampling line 


A to measure winds at an altitude of 50 feet, 


12 


The density p of the Orthene spray material was 1. 044 g em and the density of 
-3 
the Dylox material was 1.067 g¢cm . 


The spray deposit density on the cards representing the edges of the swath 
was estimated by counting stains with a hand-held magnifying glass and a clear plas- 
tic template similar to the template shown in Figure 2-3. In the Townsend Trials, 
the stains were first counted in the small (1 square centimeter) square in the upper 
left corner of the template. If the number of stains counted in this square exceeded 
50, no further counting was done on the card. If less than 50 stains were counted, 
additional squares were counted until the total of stains counted exceeded 50. The 


mass density of the drops on the card was then estimated from the expression 


m x Number of Stains Counted 


Mars Deneny = a = Number of Squares Counted 


(2-5) 


and the result entered on the Rapid Inspection Data Sheet. The entries on the data 


sheet were then reviewed with the project director. 


Table 2-1 contains the volume median diameters and swath widths esti- 


mated in the field during the Townsend Trials. 
2.4 METEOROLOGICAL DATA 


The H. E. Cramer Company was supplied with the strip charts containing 
the wind directions and wind speeds measured by the Beckman and Whitley sensors 
and Climatronics sensors at a height of 2 meters. The mean wind directions and wind 
speeds measured at the two instrument locations (see Figure 2-1) did not differ sig- 
nificantly. The recorders used with the Beckman and Whitley sensors were operated 
at a higher chart speed, thus permitting 30-second average wind directions and 


speeds to be abstracted from the charts. Appendix B contains tables of the 30- 


13 


CARD EDGE 


es 
vac 


a oe 


— 
| 


' 
Pau 


EACH SQUARE = | CM? 


FIGURE 2-3. Template for counting of drops on sampler cards in the field. 


14 


This report is published as part of a Forest Service program to improve aerial 
application of insecticides, specifically by using insecticides and delivery sys- 
tems tailored to the forest environment. The program is being conducted 
jointly by the Equipment Development Center, Missoula, Mont., and Methods 
Application Group, Davis, Calif., under the sponsorship of the Forest Insect 
and Disease Management Staff. Information or questions regarding this work 
should be directed to: 


WO-FIDM 

Methods Application Group 
2810 Chiles Rd. 

Davis, Calif. 95616 


A report on Equipment Development and Test Project 7069, Characterization 
of Small Spray Aircraft funded by the Forest Insect and Disease Management 
Staff. 


TABLE 2-1 


VOLUME MEDIAN DIAMETERS (VMD) AND 
SWATH WIDTHS ESTIMATED IN 


THE FIELD DURING THE 
Sampling Line 
Used 


TOWNSEND TRIALS 


Trial VMD Swath Width 
Number (micrometers) (feet) 
232 200 


232 


=> WOW DO wee a> 4. > & @ Fo. w.Q & 


15 


second average wind data obtained from these records for approximately a 5-minute 


period beginning 5 seconds before the helicopter passed over the sampling line. 
2.5 FIELD LABORATORY ANALYSIS PROCEDURES 


The forest Service arranged for space in the Townsend grade school for 
use as a field laboratory in carrying out a more detailed analysis of the sampling 
cards than was possible in the field. The sampling cards were returned to the 
school after each morning and evening set of trials. Two procedures were used in 
the field laboratory to estimate the VMD characteristic of each trial. These were 
variations of the direct-estimation procedure described in Section 2-3 above and 


D-max method described by Maksymiuk (1964). 


The direct-estimation method was used to estimate the VMD on each card 
within the swath. The VMD characteristic of the trial was then obtained by calcu- 


lating a mass weighted VMD from the expression 


VMD = ———————_- (2-6) 


where 


VMD, = VMD estimated for the jh card in the sampling line 


t 
M; = mass density from Equation (2-5) for the j A card in 
the sampling line 
N = total number of cards analyzed 


16 


A value of 1.5 for o, was again used in Equation (2-3) to estimate the AMD from 
5 


the BMD estimated for each of the cards, 


-The D-max method was applied in the following stepwise procedure: 


(1) The largest stains on each card in the swath width were 
measured to the nearest 50 micrometers using the Bausch 


and Lomb measuring magnifier. 


(2) The stain diameters were converted to drop diameters 
using the appropriate relationship for Orthene or Dylox 


given in Section 2.2. 


(3) The five largest measured drop diameters were arranged 
in ascending order. If two or more drops were of the 
same size, they were counted as separate drops and 


listed sequentially in the list of the five largest drops. 


(4) Beginning with the smallest drops in the list, the differ- 
ence in diameter between sequentially listed drops was 
noted. If no difference between sequential diameters in 
the list was greater than 32 micrometers, the largest 
drop was used in Step 5 below. Ifa difference greater 
than 32 micrometers, the diameter of the drop just 
below the point where the difference in diameters 


exceeded 32 micrometers was used in Step 5 below. 


(5) The drop diameter selected in Step 4 above was divided 
by a factor of 2.2 to obtain the estimate of VMD charac- 


teristic of the trial. 


a 


This D-max procedure was applied in the field laboratory by John Barry 
and Lynne Whitcombe of MAG for 11 of the 16 trials analyzed. To check the easc 
of application of the method and the reproducibility of the estimates using different 
analysts, the D-max method was reapplied at the H. E. Cramer Company in Salt 
Lake City after the trials were completed. The results obtained in the field, using 
both the direct-estimation procedure and the D-max methods, and in the post-trial 
analysis using the D-max method are given in Table 2-2, Comparison of the VMD 
estimates obtained by the direct-estimation procedure and the D-max method shows 
that, in every case, the D-max method applied in the field yielded larger values of 
VMD. The field and post-trial D-max estimates of VMD show good agreement. 
Sampling card data for Trials 6, 7, 9, 11 and 18 were analyzed in greater detail . 
during the post-trial analysis described in Section 3 below, including estimation of 


VMD from a cumulative drop-size distribution for all cards in the swath. 


The density of drops per square centimeter for each card in the swath was 
also estimated in the field laboratory for the trials listed in Table 2-2, using the 
counting procedure outlined in Section 2.3, a template similar to that shown in 
Figure 2-3 and the Bausch and Lomb magnifier rather than the large magnifying 
glass used in the field. The spray deposit densities obtained in this analysis are 


given in tabular form in Appendix C. 


18 


TABLE 2-2 


LABORATORY ESTIMATES OF VMD BY THE DIRECT-ESTIMATION 
AND D-MAX METHODS 


Trial Direct Estimate D-Max Estimate of VMD (um) 
Number of VMD 


19 


SECTION 3 
POST-TRIAL ANALYSIS 


The only valid means of confirming the estimates of the number of spray 
drops per square centimeter, volume median diameter, and the mass deposited on 
the sampling cards made during the Townsend trials was to perform a more com- 
plete analysis after the trials, including the development of volume and number 
cumulative distributions for selected trials. The additional analyses were also 
required to reach decisions regarding the types of procedures that could be recom- 
mended for use in the field to obtain the best rapid estimates of spray characteri- 


zation parameters. 


To ensure that reproducible results could be obtained, the decision was 
made to perform the post-trial analysis in duplicate. Arrangements were made 
by MEDC with Dugway Proving Ground to have Mr. McIntyre count and size stains 
for selected trials, Mr. William Santee of the H. E. Cramer Company was assigned 
the task of counting and sizing stains for the same trials. Because of the limited 
time and funds available for the post-trial analyses, data from only 5 trials could 
be analyzed in the requisite detail. Two trials where the Orthene mix was sprayed 
and 3 where the Dylox mix was sprayed were selected for analysis. Trials 6 and 7 
were chosen for the Orthene mix because these trials were the only 2 trials where 
the aircraft flew into the wind and the drops were sampled using cards placed on 
the ground. Trials 9 and 11 were chosen because the standard configuration of 8 
Beecomist spray heads was used and the aircraft flight path into the wind was nearly 
perpendicular to the sampling line. Trial 18 was chosen because a standard config- 


uration of 19 Flat Fan No. 8010 spray heads was used on the helicopter spray boom, 


A plastic template similar to that shown in Figure 3-1 was used in both 


the counting and sizing of drop stains. One of the three template sizes of 4, 8 or 


20 


FIGURE 3-1. 


Template used for counting drops. 


21 


16 square centimeters wis chosen, depending on visual inspection of the density of 
stains on a sampling car|, for use in the counting and sizing of stains to ensure that 
a minimum of 200 stains were considered. Each stain diameter was measured and 
counted using the Bausch and Lomb measuring magnifier and assigned to one of 8- 
to-12 stain diameter categories. The upper limits of the stain diameter categories 
used in the analyses of the five trials are shown in Table 3-1. The drop diameters 
corresponding to the category limits shown in Table 3-1 were calculated from the 


stain-factor relationships given in Section 2. 2. 


3.1 DETERMINATION OF SPRAY DEPOSIT DENSITIES ON SAMPLING CARDS 
AND SWATH WIDTH 


After the stains on the sampling cards from the sampling line used in the 
trial were counted and sized, the density of stains on each card was calculated from 


the expression 


1 
N =— 
j A, 4 


I 
(3-1) 
ASL 


i ar 
1, J 


where 
N. = spray deposit density for the - card in the line (drops 
-2 
em =) 


A, = area of the template counted for the - card (cm?) 


I = total number of stain size categories counted for the 


jth card 


n= number of drops counted in the Fo drop size category on 
J the jth card 


22 


TABLE 3-1 


UPPER LIMITS IN MICROMETERS OF STAIN AND 
DROP-SIZE CATEGORIES USED IN THE 
POST-TRIAL ANALYSIS 


Drop-Size Category 


: Upper 
sa [i eee 
Drop | 83.77} 128.3 | 171.1 | 212.3 | 251.8) 289.7) 325.9) 360.5) 393.4 


Drop 


= nfm fv» [om fo 


€Z 


= r[on fw [ow [om 


The results obtained by using Equation (3-1) to calculate spray deposit densities 

for the five selected trials are shown in Figures 3-2 through 3-6 for both observers. 
Inspection of the figures shows that one analyst consistently estimated higher den- 
sities than the other (counted more drops). We are unable to account with certainty 
for this consistent bias. It should, however, be noted that Mr. McIntyre and Mr. 
Santee did not necessarily count stains in the same location on the sampling card. 
Each analyst counted stains in the area he felt was representative of the observed 
density on each card. A possible explanation of the bias is that the analysts differed 
in their selection of the area of the card that was representative of the observed den- 
sity, one analyst always selecting an area with a higher density than the other. To 
examine this possibility, the two analysts were asked to examine some cards and 
estimate spray deposit density after the analysis of the trials had been completed. 
The exact area to be counted was marked and both analysts counted the same area. 
The estimates of deposit densities by the two analysts were considerably closer, 

but some bias was still present. Areas on additional cards were marked and the 
analysts were asked to count only stains that were larger than 50 micrometers, since 
the measuring magnifier was marked in 100-micrometer intervals. The result of 
this experiment showed no bias between the two analysts. Sufficient time and funds 
were not available to undertake the recounting of all the cards to further examine the 
bias problem. However, in the field manual, the templates have been designed so 
that the same area is counted on all cards and the recommendation is made that 
stains less than 50 micrometers not be counted when the Bausch and Lomb measuring 
magnifier is used. If drops producing stains less than 50 micrometers are important 
in the estimate of drop density or mass deposition, a more accurate measurement 


device should be used. 


The profiles of crosswind spray deposit density shown in Figures 3-2 through 
3-6 can be used to estimate the minimum swath width based on spray deposit density. 
Estimates of the minimum swath width for five trials are shown in Table 3-2. Swath 


widths for all trials except Trial 7 were estimated as the distance between cards on 


24 


(z-w9 sdoip) ALISNSG LISOd30 AVYdS 


CARD NUMBER 


The dashed and solid lines repre- 


sent results obtained by two different analysts. 


FIGURE 3-2. Spray deposit density for Trial 6. 


25 


110 


105 


0O| 


95 


85 


80 


75 


(z-W2 sdoap) ALISNSO LISOd3Q AVHdS 


26 


CARD NUMBER 


The dashed and solid lines represent results obtained by two 


FIGURE 3-3. Spray deposit density for Trial 7. 


different analysts. 


(z-W9 sdoip) ALISNSQ LISOdSQ AVudS 


CARD NUMBER 


The dashed and solid lines repre- 


sent results obtained by two different analysts. 


FIGURE 3-4. Spray deposit density for Trial 9. 


27 


| 
ete lem 
! 


(zo sdoup) ALISNSQ LISOd3q0 AVYdS 


' 
He 
1 


28 


CARD NUMBER 


The dashed and solid lines represent results obtained by 


FIGURE 3-5. Spray deposit density for Trial 11. 


two different analysts. 


CARD NUMBER 


The dashed and solid lines repre- 


sent results obtained by two different analysts. 


FIGURE 3-6. Spray deposit density for Trial 18. 


29 


APPENDIX A 


FIELD MANUAL FOR CHARACTERIZING 
SPRAY FROM SMALL AIRCRAFT 


This appendix contains a complete copy of the field manual developed 


under the contract. 


plotting mass recovery, drop contamination density and cumulative mass distribu- 
tion. Keuffel and Esser Company Numbers 461510 and 46840 should satisfy most 
requirements. Finally, a desk-top programmable calculator is recommended for 
simple and rapid analysis of the numerical data developed from the card counting 
and sizing as described in Section 5.2. The 9820A Calculator manufactured by 
Hewlett-Packard, Loveland, Colorado, is ideally suited for this purpose, since it 
allows alpha-numeric printout and identification of input parameters. Also, when 
used in conjunction with the 9862A Calculator Plotter, an automated plotting capa- 
bility is provided. The use of a preprogrammed calculator greatly reduces the 
chances of human errors affecting the results and significantly reduces the time 


required to complete the analysis. 


12 


SECTION 3 
DESIGNING THE SAMPLING GRID; OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS 


Trials for determining the characteristics of small aircraft spray systems 


are est conducted with the aircraft flying at a low altitude and headed into the wind. 
The inwind flight trajectory ensures that the entire drop-size spectrum of the spray 
cloud can be sampled with a minimum number of samplers and also provides esti- 
mates of the minimum swath width that can be expected under operational conditions 
during the forest spray project. In this section, the design of a sampling network 
for measuring spray characteristics and suggestions for conducting the trials are 


described. 
Oe kL DESIGN OF THE SAMPLING GRID 


3.1.1 Choosing The Site 


Large cleared and relatively level areas are ideally required for determining 
spray characteristics. Buildings, trees, power lines, and other obstructions inter- 
fere with the placement of sampling lines, with the wind-flow field, and with the air- 
craft flight pattern. Since the card samplers are placed on the ground, high grass or 
bushes can intercept the drops before they reach the cards. For this reason, mowing 
or other means of removing large plant forms in the immediate vicinity of the sampling 
lines may be required. Irregularities in the ground surface can also act to confound 
the results of the trials and should be avoided where possible. The aircraft pilot must 
maintain level flight for some distance downwind of the sampling line as the aircraft 
approaches the sampling line and for even greater distances upwind of the sampling 
lines. The requisite length of the flight line depends, as will be discussed later, on 
the height of the aircraft. Aircraft heights of 50 to 100 feet require characterization 


sites exceeding one square mile in area. Sites where the public can easily gain access 


13 


should be avoided, since some of the dyed spray material could easily be deposited 


on people or cars within the spray area. 


BoL.2 Grid Geometry 


As noted above, an inwind flight trajectory ensures that the entire drop- 
size spectrum of the spray cloud can be sampled with a minimum number of sam- 
plers. The grid should be designed such that sampling lines are crosswind. Expe- 
rienced meteorologists and test personnel know that specifying a mean wind-direction 
for a short-period averaging time well in advance of a trial is extremely difficult 
under the best of circumstances. Therefore, the sampling grid must be designed to 
accommodate variations in the mean wind direction to prevent the introduction of 
serious errors in the data analysis. For this reason, the equilateral triangle design 
shown in Figure 3-1 is recommended. Inspection of Figure 3-1 shows that this 
design tends to limit the angle between the aircraft flight path (flown into the wind) 
and a sampling line to 90 + 30 degrees. Figure 3-2 shows the combinations of sam- 
pling lines and mean wind directions which would apply if north is assumed to be at 
the top of Figure 3-1. According to Figure 3-2, sampling line A can be used for all 
wind directions from 150 through 210 degrees and from 330 through 30 degrees. Sam- 
pling line B can be used for all winds from 30 through 90 degrees and from 210 through 
270 degrees. Similarly, sampling line C can be used for all winds from 90 through 
150 degrees and from 270 through 330 degrees. The choice of the proper flight path 
for any given trial is made, as explained in Section 3.2.3 below, from mean wind 


direction measurements made just prior to conduct of the trial. 


Knowledge of the most frequent wind directions at the site chosen for the 
trials would assist in orienting the triangular design to further ensure that sampling 
lines are oriented crosswind. Spray projects are normally conducted during the 
early morning and late evening hours during periods of fair weather. The light wind 


conditions usually present during these hours are generally favorable for maximum 


14 


A e—e1S=0.4H 


FIGURE 3-1. Simple equilateral triangle sampling grid for characterizing aircraft 
spray. The length of the sides L are 10 times the aircraft flight 
altitude Ht and the sampler spacing S is 0. 4II. 


oo 


270° 90° 270° 


8 


Now 


zz 


</00 


FIGURE 3-2. Illustration of the use of the sampling lines A, B and C of the basic 
grid design shown in Figure 3-1 with winds from various directions. 


16 


canopy penetration and minimum off-site drift of the spray material. Strong winds 
and high levels of atmospheric turbulence generally diminish spray deposition in the 
immediate target area and increase the possibility of downwind drift. The above 
considerations also apply to the determination of aircraft spray characteristics. 
Thus, one of the sampling lines should be oriented to be crosswind relative to the 
wind directions expected during the early morning or late evening hours. A trained » 
micrometeorologist can often determine expected mean wind directions for these 


periods from a knowledge of the topographical features in the area. 


Length of the Triangular Sides 


Each side of the triangular grid array must be long enough to contain the 
swath width or contamination density of interest. While rather complicated diffusion- 
deposition formulas can be used to determine the length L as a function of droplet 


settling velocity, height of the aircraft and meteorological conditions--experience has 


shown that the simple expression 


L = 10H (3-1) 


where 


ge 
| 


length of side 


H = aircraft height 


normally guarantees the swath width will be contained. Thus, if the aircraft flies at 
a height of 15 meters (50 feet), the length of each side of the triangular array should 
be 150 meters (500 feet). 


Sampler Spacing 


The sampler spacing along each side of the array must be sufficiently dense 


that statistically stable estimates of the volume median diameter and other spray 


17 


characteristics can be obtained. Again, modeling and ficld experience show that 


the expression 


p= se = 0ae (3-2) 


where 


S = maximum sampler separation distance 


provides an adequate sampling array density. Thus, for an aircraft flight altitude 
of 15 meters (50 feet), the maximum distance between card samplers on the sam- 


pling line should be 6 meters (~20 feet). 
3.1.2 Aircraft Height and Spray Line Length 


For the purpose of characterizing aircraft spray, it is generally desirable 
that the aircraft fly as low as possible to minimize sampling grid requirements while 
satisfying flight safety requirements. Consideration must also be given to the oper- 
ational requirements of the spray project for which the characterization is performed. 
If the project is to be conducted over rough terrain the aircraft may not be able to 
operate safely at altitudes lower than 30 meters (100 feet) above the canopy. In this 
case, the characterization trials should be conducted with an aircraft altitude of 30 
meters above the ground. A 15-meter (50-foot) minimum altitude often meets both 
requirements of safety and grid design. The flight altitude may have to be increased, 
however, if the density of the stains from drops deposited on the sampling cards is 
so great that spray characteristics cannot be determined. Since the stain spread 
factor of drops depends on the type of material released by the aircraft, the type of 
sampling card and other spray characteristics that may not be known prior to the 


trials, it is difficult to recommend a specific aircraft altitude. A simple one-trial 


18 


experiment at an aircraft altitude of 15 meters can be concede prior to final spec- 
ification of the grid design to determine if the cards will be covered so heavily that 
stains cannot be counted and sized. On the other hand, a value for the length L of 
300 meters can be used in the grid design for a 30-meter aircraft altitude with a 
sampler separation distance S of 6 meters appropriate for an aircraft altitude of 
15 meters. If the first trials indicate that a 15-meter altitude results in spray den- 
sitites that cannot be conveniently counted, the flight altitude can be increased to 30 
meters and every other sampling position removed from each side of the triangular 
grid. Since spray density is nearly inversely proportional to aircraft altitude, an 


increase in aircraft altitude by a factor of two will reduce deposition density by half. 


The length of the inwind release line required to ensure that the crosswind 
mass recovery sampled on the grid is not affected also depends on the aircraft alti- 
tude as well as spray characteristics and meteorological conditions. Calculations 
show that if much of the spray cloud mass is comprised of drops with diameters of 
50 micrometers or less and wind speeds are less than or equal to 4 meters per sec- 
ond, the length of the release line RL upwind of the sampling grid should be about 


one-hundred times the aircraft altitude, or 
RL = 100H {D < 50um} (3-3) 


If most of the mass of the spray cloud is comprised of drops between 50 and 100 
micrometers in diameter and wind speeds are less than 4 meters per second, the 
length of the release line upwind of the sampling grid should be about seventy times 


the aircraft altitude, or 


RL = 70H {50 <D < 100um} (3-4) 


19 


Finally, if most of the spray cloud mass is comprised of drops greater than 100 


micrometers in diameter, the length of the release line upwind of the sampling 


grid need only be about thirty-five times the aircraft altitude, or 


i 


RL = 35H {100um < D} (3-5) 


In every case, the release line must begin at least 50 to 100 meters downwind of the 
sampling grid. Longer distances may be required to stabilize the aircraft altitude 
and the flow rate in the spray dissemination system. 


3.1.3 Summary of Grid Design Requirements 


The sampling grid recommended for use in characterizing spray from small 


aircraft is shaped in the form of an equilateral triangle. 


. The length of each side of the triangle L is 
Lite LOH 


where H is the planned aircraft flight altitude. 


The maximum separation distance S between sampling cards placed along 


each side of the triangle is 
S' = 0.4H 


The release line should extend upwind from the sampling line a distance 


RL given by 


20 


100H; D<50um 
RL = 4 70H; 50<D<100um 


35H; 100um<D 


where RL depends on the size of drops expected to be generated by the spray air- 


craft. 


For example, assume the planned aircraft flight altitude for the spray char- 
acterization is 15 meters (50 feet) above the ground and most of the mass is expected 
to be contained in drops with diameters between 50 and 100 micrometers. The 


length of each side of the triangular grid should be 
L = 10H = 10 (15) = 150 meters (~500 feet) 


The distance between sampling card positions along each side of the triangle should 


not be more than 
S = 0.4H = 0.4 (15) = 6 meters (20 feet) 
The inwind release line should extend upwind from the sampling line a distance 


RL = 70H = 170(15) = 1050 meters (3500 feet) 


21 


3.2 OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS 


Seed Dressing The Grid 


After the length of the triangular sides of the sampling grid and the sampler 
grid spacing have been determined, the transit or theodolite and the manilla rope 
are used to lay out the sampling lines. The manilla rope is stretched taut at right 
angles to the most probable wind direction expected during the early morning hours 
using the theodolite to ensure that the line segment is straight and correctly oriented. 
Quarter-inch stock metal rods are then driven or forced into the ground at the pre- 
determined sampling intervals marked by the surveyor's tape tacked to the rope. 
The rope is then moved and the above procedures repeated until the sampling line 
length is long enough to form one side of the triangular grid array. The transit is 
then used to measure the 60-degree angles and lay out the next two sides of the array. 
Wood stakes, 5 to 6 feet high and marked with bright tape, should be placed at the 
end of each leg of the triangle and at the center position of each leg. It may be nec- 
essary to clear a small area around each metal rod so that plants or other material 


do not intercept drops that would otherwise impact on the card. 


Cards for three or more trials can be premarked and placed in cardholders 
prior to each day's operation. At a minimum, the marks placed on each card should 
identify the trial (or flight) number, sampling line number, and sampler location on 
the line. For example, the identification 13-A-50 might indicate Trial 13, Sampling 
line A and the 50th-card position on sampling line A. The cards in their cardholders 
can be packed in ascending numerical order in the wooden boxes described in Section - 
2.1 for transportation to the field site such that one or two boxes, depending on the 
length of the sampling line, are sufficient to dress one side of the triangular array. 
The cardholders should be placed at the side of each stake so that the stake does not 
intercept drops which would otherwise strike the card, The cardholder must be 
placed flat on the ground and care must be taken that loose soil or dust is not kicked 


onto the card in placing the card or in picking up the samplers after the trials. 


22 


Because of the triangular grid array, not all cards on all sides of the array 
will be exposed during a single trial or aircraft pass over the grid. ‘To avoid con- 
fusion in sample card designation, it is best to pick up all premarked cards on all 
sides of the array after each trial. Those cards obviously not exposed during the 
trial can be remarked later for use in trials at a later time. If cards on one side 
of the array are not exposed and left for the next trial, care must be taken to change 
their trial identification as they are picked up in subsequent trials and after they have 


been exposed to spray deposits. 
3.2.2 Location and Operation of Meteorological Equipment — 


The low-level (2-meter) wind-direction and speed sensors and associated 
recording equipment are best located near the center of the triangular grid, well 
away from any of the sampling lines. Vehicles or other obstructions to wind flow 
should never be placed near the sensors when data are being recorded. Manufac- 
turer's instructions must be carefully followed during the assembly and placement 
of the equipment to prevent damage. Special care must be taken in fitting the wind 
vane and speed assemblies into their sockets so that heavy thrust is not placed on 
the bearings of the drive. The bearing must always be checked for damage by 


checking for completely free rotation of the vanes. 


In using the transit or theodolite to orient the wind vane, it must be rem- 
embered that wind direction is always recorded as the direction from which the wind 
is blowing. The orientation point should be in the direction of the most frequently- 
occurring wind. Select a nearby prominent landmark that can be seen in dim light 
and is not likely to be obscured by clouds or fog. If no landmark is convenient, 
drive a stake for use in sighting the vane. Align the transit or theodolite with the 
vane and orientation point and note the direction. Rotate the head of the wind vane, 
after loosening the alignment screw to permit free movement, until the recorder 


pen is making a trace at the center of the chart when the vane is pointing toward 


23 


the orientation point. Tighten the alignment screw and recheck the orientation. 
Repeat the process until the recorder pen is centered while the vane is pointed 
toward the orientation point. Note the direction of the orientation point on the 
chart. This procedure will have to be repeated if, during the trials or just prior 
to a trial, the wind direction is such that the recorder pen is moving back and 


forth from one edge of the chart to the other. 


If possible, the wind equipment should be operated continuously during the 
period of the characterization trials and for several days prior to the trials. The 
continuous record is useful in determining wind-flow patterns to be expected during 
the early morning and evening hours when the trials are to be conducted. A chart 
speed of 3 inches per hour is adequate for continuous recording of the wind direction 
and speed, but the chart speed should be increased to a minimum of 12 inches per 
hour before the spray run of the aircraft and continued for a 10- to 15-minute period 
after the aircraft has completed the spray run. Since chart drives do not always 
operate accurately, the correct time should be entered opposite time "hacks" or 
marks on the chart at frequent intervals. The trial number, time and date of each 
trial must be indicated in the margins of the chart. Any significant weather phenom- 
ena or changes in instrumentation (reorientation) should also be noted directly on the 


charts. 


The operation of a tethersonde and release of pilot balloons for measuring 
vertical wind and temperature structure during the conduct of characterization trials 
are optional. An experienced meteorologist can make use of these observations in 
predicting the times for onset of favorable winds. If the trials are being conducted 
for research purposes, the vertical meteorological data are essential for document- 
ing trial conditions. It is beyond the scope of this manual to explain the use of this 
information in the conduct and detailed analysis of spray trials. If at all possible, 
the measurements should be made and included in the documentary support of the 
trials. The tethersonde base station location and point where pilot balloons are 


released should be located as near as possible to the sampling grid array without 


24 


causing interference with aircraft operations. Manufacturer's instructions for oper- 
ating the tethersonde must be carefully followed, especially those for calibration of 
the equipment. Instructions for making pilot balloon measurements and reducing 

the observations to obtain wind directions and speeds are contained in the publication 
"Winds Aloft Observations Manual, Handbook No. 5" published by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and available from the U. S. Government 
Printing Office. It should be noted that accessory equipment for operation and anal- 
ysis of the tethersonde and pilot balloon data are not included in the equipment lists 


given in Section 2. 
3.2.3 Conducting the Trial 


Spray characterization trials are best conducted under reasonably steady- 
state meteorological conditions. Large changes in wind direction can result in 
shifts in the spray cloud pattern which serve to confound the determination of the 
effective swath width and deposition efficiency. The best spray deposition patterns 
are usually obtained during the early-morning and late-evening hours when the wind 
speeds are low and the thermal stratification is neutral. However, meteorological 
conditions during these hours are typically unsteady. The procedures described 
below are suggested as the most effective means of ensuring that conditions are suf- 


ficiently steady for the conduct of spray characterization trials. 


Operate the 2-meter wind recording equipment at a chart speed of 12 inches 
per hour for at least 1 hour prior to the trials. For the two most recent 10-minute 
periods, lightly draw two straight lines, each 2 inches long (equivalent to 10 minutes 
of chart record) through the recorded wind direction data to obtain estimates of the | 
mean wind direction during each of the 10-minute periods. If the two 10-minute mean 
wind directions do not differ by more than 15 degrees, the wind direction is suffic- 
iently steady for conducting a trial. Draw similar lines through the two most recent 
10-minute periods of wind speed. If both of the 10-minute average wind speeds fall 


within the limits of 1.5 to 4 meters per second (3.5 to 9 miles per hour), wind speed 


25 


conditions are favorable for conducting a trial. Release a smoke seein and observe 
the vertical spread or diffusion of the smoke. In the very early morning or very 

late in the evening when wind speeds are light, the smoke may not spread vertically 
with distance to the height of the planned aircraft altitude. If the smoke "hugs"' the 
ground with little vertical spreading as shown in Figure 3-3(a) indicating a very 
stable thermal stratification of the atmosphere, delay the trials. In the late morn- 
ing or in the afternoon, the smoke may lift quickly from the ground as shown in 
Figure 3-3(b), may form loops alternately lifting from and intersecting with the 
ground, or diffuse too rapidly. Under these conditions, the atmosphere is too 
unstable and spray characterization trials should be delayed. If the smoke plume 
grows regularly in the vertical with increasing downwind distance as shown in Fig- 
ure 3-3(c) and reaches the aircraft altitude at a reasonable distance from the source 
(a distance equal to about 10H), diffusion conditions are suitable for characterization 
trials. If the wind direction and speed criteria outlined above are also satisfied, the 


trials should be conducted. 


Two persons are required to be present on the sampling grid during the 
trial, one to monitor the 2-meter wind equipment and the other to release a smoke 
grenade and communicate with the aircraft pilot. When the grid is cleared, the 
aircraft is airborne, and the meteorological conditions are satisfactory, a second 
smoke grenade should be released at the center stake of the triangular side of the 
sampling array facing the wind to serve as a guide to the aircraft pilot. The pilot 
maintains the correct altitude, aligns his aircraft with the smoke plume and flies 
upwind towards the source of the smoke. The spray dissemination equipment should 
be turned on at a distance downwind from the smoke source that allows the flow rate - 
to become stabilized. Dissemination is then continued past the sampling grid for a 
distance corresponding to the precalculated length of the release line RL discussed 
in Section 3.1.2 above. The person monitoring the wind equipment should mark each 
chart to indicate the points on the chart corresponding to the time the aircraft passes 


over the sampling line, and the time. Other information, such as the trial number, 


26 


AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE 


AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE— 


“4 


—— AIRCRAFT ALT TUDE $$ 


FIGURE 3-3. Schematic diagram showing smoke plume diffusion under (a) condi- 
tions too stable for characterization trials, (b) conditions too unstable 
for characterization trials and (c) favorable conditions for spray char- 
acterization trials. 


27 


time duration of the trial, sky cover, observations of the spray-cloud behavior and 


other observations pertinent to the conduct of the trial should also be noted. 


After the spray cloud has settled and the droplets have dried on the cards, 
preparations for the field characterization of the spray trial, discussed in Section 


5 below, can be made. 
3.2.4 Trial Log 


An example form for recording pertinent information regarding the spray 
system and meteorological data for each trial is shown in Figure 3-4, Many of the 
items can be completed in the field prior to and just after the trial has been con- 
ducted. The analysis of the pilot balloon and tethersonde data to obtain vertical 
profiles of wind and temperature data may take several hours or days to complete 
and can be entered later. Nozzle spacing on aircraft booms is often nonuniform and 
nozzles may or may not be located beneath the aircraft body. Note that space has 
been provided in Section III of the Trial Log for use in sketching the nozzle spacing 


and configuration used in the trial. 


28 


FIGURE 3-4 
TRIAL LOG 


Trial Number Time/Date Time Zone 
Row Row Azimuth oO Card Separation m 


Number of Cards 


SPRAY SYSTEM DATA 
. Aircraft 


Spray Nozzle Nozzle Orientation 
a 


Airspeed (mph) Flow Rate gallons min™ 


Flight Altitude (ft orm) Aircraft Heading 0 
Spray Material Material Density g em73 
Stain Factor Formula 


Stain Factor Constants 


METEOROLOGICAL DATA 


Cloud Cover % Temperature °C 


2-m Wind Direction ©  2-m Wind Speed m sec! 


% 


Relative Humidity 


(Optional Measurements Using Pilot Ballons and/or Tethersonde) 


Wind Profile Temperature Profile 


Height (m)| Direction (°)| Speed (m sec“) Height (m)| Temperature (°C) 


29 


FIGURE 3-4 (Continued) 


Il. NOZZLE CONFIGURATION 


Aircraft Centerline 


IV. REMARKS 


30 


SECTION 4 
FIELD CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SPRAY DISSEMINATION SYSTEM 


The procedures described below for determining swath width, drop density 
within the swath and volume-median diameter are designed to provide in-the-field 
characterization of the aircraft spray. For example, these 'quick-look" procedures 
are intended to provide aircraft spray engineers with the information required to 
make immediate decisions regarding necessary changes in nozzle types, nozzle 
configurations, flow rate and to make other mechanical adjustments in the dissemi- 
nation system to improve spray characteristics. These procedures are also in- 
tended for use in determining any changes required in the aircraft flight altitude, 
separation distance of the card samplers and other features of the test plan to achieve 
better results. Final characterization of the aircraft spray system requires a more 


complete data analysis which is described in Section 5. 


4.1 PLASTIC TEMPLATES FOR SIZING AND COUNTING DROPS 


The analysis procedures described here and in Section 5 require the use of 
clear plastic templates to overlay the exposed sample cards. Sample templates are 
attached to this manual. Since continued use of the templates will eventually result 
in their becoming scratched and unusable, it is necessary to provide replacements. 
This can best be accomplished by having a draftsman draw the templates on tracing 


paper at three times the size shown in the figures using a No. 0000 Leroy pen. This 


original drawing is then photographed, reduced 33.3 percent and then reproduced on 
clear 4 mil mylar film. The negative produced in this process can be used over and 


over to make new templates as required. 


4.2 SWATH WIDTH AND DROP DENSITY 


The spray project entomologist is interested in obtaining the widest swath 


width in which droplet density exceeds a specified amount known or thought to produce 


31 


the requisite pesticide effectiveness. A "quick-look"' estimate of the minimum swath 
width and drop density within the swath width can be obtained by following the simple 


procedures described below. 


After the visible spray cloud has settled or dispersed, proceed on foot from 
one end of the exposed card line until spray deposition on the sampling cards becomes 
visible to the naked eye. Visually inspect the next few cards and note the position of 
the first card on which the drop density appears to be uniform. After inspecting this 
card to be certain that the stains have dried, estimate the spray drop density on this 


card using the following step-wise procedure: 


(1) Remove the card from its holder. 


(2) Place the template shown in Figure 4-1 over the card and fasten 
the card and template to the clipboard. 


(3) Use the large hand-held magnifying glass to count the number of 
stains in the small (1 square centimeter) square in the upper left- 


hand corner. Note the number of stains on scratch paper. 


(4) Continue to the next square moving down the extreme left column 
of squares on the template. Count the stains in the square and add 
the number to the number of stains determined for the first square 
(step 3). If the total number of stains exceeds 100, no more squares 
need be counted. If the total number of stains is 100 or less, con- 
tinue to count the stains in squares until the total number of stains 


exceeds 100 for all squares counted. 


(5) Enter the card number, total number of squares counted (area in 
square centimeters) and total number of stains in the columns 


provided in the field information sheet shown in Figure 4-2. 


(6) Divide the number of stains by the area and enter the drop density 


in the last column of Figure 4-2. 


32 


CARD EDGE 


EACH SQUARE = | CM? 


FIGURE 4-1. Template for counting of drops on sampler cards in the field. 


33 


FIGURE 4-2 
FIELD ESTIMATE OF SWATH WIDTH AND DROPLET DENSITIES 


Date 
Trial Number 
Row/Line Number 


Density 
(drops cm 


~2) 


Card Number for Left Edge of Swath 
Right Edge of Swath 


Estimated Swath Width 


34 


(7) Replace the card in its cardholder and return the cardholder 


to its original position for later pickup. 


If the drop density on this first card is less than the density required to produce the 
requisite pesticide effectiveness, use the density just measured as a guide and walk 
along the card line towards cards showing greater densities and attempt visually to 
select a card showing the requisite density. For example, if the first card shows a 
density of 10 drops per square centimeter and the required density is 20 drops per 
square centimeter, proceed along the card line and select a card showing twice the 
density of the card just measured. Follow the same procedure for counting the stains 
to obtain drop density. If the measured drop density on the selected card is greater 
than or approximately equal to the required density, the edge of the swath can be 
obtained by linear interpolation. As soon as this edge of the swath is defined, walk 
to the other end of the card line and use the same procedures to define the other edge 


of the swath. 


After defining the swath width, use the procedures for counting stains out- 
lined above to estimate the drop density of the card near the swath center visually 
indicating the greatest density. Estimate the drop density on at least two other cards. 
If the drop density distribution along the card line is uniform or Gaussian (bell-shaped), 
select a card half-way between the swath end and swath center on either side of the 
card showing the greatest density. If the distribution is slightly asymmetrical, which 
can occur when the aircraft does not fly directly into the mean wind, select the addi- 
tional cards for analysis from the side of the distribution with the longest "tail." When 
the distribution appears highly assymmetrical, an additional trial must be conducted to 
estimate the minimum swath width. After the drop-density estimates have been com- 
pleted, enter the position numbers of the cards marking the swath edges at the bottom 
of the form shown in Figure 4-2; subtract the position numbers and multiply by the sam- 
pler separation distance to obtain the estimated swath width. Enter the swath width on 


the form. 


35 


The analysis of drop density on 5 cards is usually more than sufficient to 
define the swath width for field use and provide the necessary information to allow 
aircraft engineers to make necessary adjustments in spray equipment and assist 
the project entomologist in making a preliminary estimate of the spray system per- 
formance, In many cases, measurement of the drop density at the swath edges may 
provide sufficient information in the field. More complete information will be avail- 


able after the field laboratory analysis is completed (see Section 5), 


It should be noted that the drop density analysis and the volume median diam- 
eter analysis described in Section 4.3 below are best accomplished using two people, 


one to count the drops and the other to record the information. 


4.3 FIELD ESTIMATION OF VOLUME MEDIAN DIAMETER 


The procedures outlined in this section for the field estimation of the volume 
median diameter (VMD) are based on the approach suggested by B. Maksymiuk (1964), 
Although Maksymiuk tested his approach using propeller-driven slow and medium 
speed aircraft and oil-based sprays, recent experience in applying the method with 
helicopter equipment and oil- and water-based sprays indicates the method is also 


adequate for the field estimation of VMD's for this type of equipment and sprays. 


In the following discussion, it has been assumed that the ''stain factor" has 
been measured prior to the trials. The stain factor is the relationship between the 
drop size before impaction on the sampling card and the size of the stain produced by 


the drop on the card. A typical relationship is given by the expression 


DD = atb (SD) tc (SD) (4-1) 
where 
DD = drop diameter 
SD = stain diameter 


36 


and a, b, and c are constants determined in the laboratory. In the above expression 
there is no specific provision for the spread of the stain as a function of time after 
the drop impacts. For some oil-based sprays and some types of sampling cards, 
the stain can continue to spread for hours after drop impact. When long periods of 
time are required for stabilization of stain diameters, the analysis of VMD (and per- 
haps drop density estimation) must either be delayed until stabilization occurs or the 
time after drop impact be included in the stain factor expression. Also, in the case 
of long stabilization times, cards may either have to be left on the sampling grid for 
longer times or special care taken to protect the cards during collection from the 


grid to prevent smudging. 


The D-max method for estimating VMD is based on inspection of sampling 
cards for large diameter stains. In theory, use of the method requires selecting and 
measuring the largest stain on every card along the sampling line before selecting 
the five largest drops. In practice, the larger diameter stains usually occur near 
the center of the swath on the cards which also exhibit the highest drop densities, thus 


simplifying the estimation procedure. The following procedure is recommended. 


(1) Select the sampling card near the center of the swath exhibit- 
ing the highest drop density. 


(2) Visually inspect the card and select the largest stain appearing 


on the card. 


(3) | Measure the stain diameter to the nearest 50 micrometers 
using the measuring magnifier graduated in 100 micrometer 


intervals. 


(4) If there are several stains nearly as large as the largest 


stain on the card, measure their diameters. 


37 


(5) Enter the card number and stain diameter(s) on the form 


shown in Figure 4-3. 


(6) Proceed to the next card to the left (right) and repeat the 


measurement procedure. 


(7) Continue measuring the largest stains on cards to the left 
(right) of the swath center until it becomes obvious that 


additional cards could not yield one of the five largest drops. 


(8) Repeat the measurement process on the right (left) side of 


the swath center. 


(9) Using the stain factor, compute the drop diameter for the 
largest stains on each card, and enter the results on the 
form shown in Figure 4-3. A battery-operated pocket cal- 


culator is recommended for use in making this calculation. 


(10) Select the five largest drop diameters from the tabulated 
values and enter their card numbers and diameters in the 
spaces provided on the right-hand side of the form; enter 
the largest diameter at the top and the smallest diameter 
at the bottom. If two or more drops are of the same size, 
they should still be counted as separate drops and listed 


sequentially in the "Five Largest Drops" table. 


(11) The largest drop appearing in the "Five Largest Drops" 
table is used in the next step to estimate the VMD for the 
trial, providing that the difference in diameter between 


any two successively ordered drops does not exceed 32 


38 


FIGURE 4-3 
FIELD CHARACTERIZATION OF VOLUME MEDIAN DIAMETER (VMD) 


Trial Number Spray Material 
Time/Date Flow Rate 
Row/Line Number Miscellaneous 
Aircraft 7 


Aircraft Altitude 


Aircraft Speed Set ee Stain Factor a 
: Stain Factor Relationship: Constants b 
DD = at+b(SD) + c (SD) : 


DD = Drop Diameter 
we sD 


Stain Diameter 


Largest Stains and Drops 


Card Number | Stain Diameter | Drop Diameter 


_ 
_ 
ee 

° 
— 


39 


Five Largest Drops 
Card Number Drop Diameter 


DD/2.2 (80-120 mph) 
VMD = 


DD/2.5 (> 120 mph) 


micrometers. Ifa difference in diameter greater than 32 
micrometers occurs between any of the drops, the drop just 


below the 32-micrometer gap is used in the next step. 


(12) |The VMD for the trial is estimated by dividing the drop 
selected in Step (11) by a factor of either 2.2 or 2.5, 
depending on the speed of the aircraft as noted in the 


form. Enter the VMD in the space provided. 


As mentioned above, two formulas are shown on the form in Figure 4-3 for calculat- 
ing VMD. If the aircraft speed during the trial was between 80 and 120 miles per 
hour, the largest drop diameter DD is divided by the conversion factor 2.2. If 

the speed was greater than 120 miles per hour, DD is divided by 2.5. These con- 
version factors (2.2 and 2.5) are somewhat arbitrary. Maksymiuk (1964) established 
that the factors were dependent on aircraft speed. However, inthe trials used to 
develop the technique, the aircraft flew at 80 miles per hour and at 170 miles per 
hour, resulting in the definition of the two factors shown in the table. Since a more 
definitive estimate of VMD will be obtained in the field laboratory analysis described 
in Section 5 below, it may be possible to obtain refined estimates of the conversion 
factors for use in subsequent trials. As an example of the application of the D-max 
technique, assume that the aircraft speed was 90 miles per hour and the five largest 
drops diameters measured on the cards in ascending order were 263, 286, 286, 321 


and 335 micrometers. The VMD for the trial is calculated as follows: 
VMD = =— = 130 micrometers 


After completion of the procedure for estimating VMD, the field crew can 


collect the cards and prepare the sampling grid for the next trial. 


40 


SECTION 5 


FIELD LABORATORY CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AIRCRAFT 
SPRAY DISSEMINATION SYSTEM 


Field laboratory procedures for determining the swath width from drop 
density counts, evaluating the drop-size distribution within the swath width to obtain 
the volume median, average mass and number median diameters, and the mass re- 


covery and deposition efficiency within the swath are described below. 
eel DROP DENSITY DISTRIBUTION IN THE SWATH 


The field laboratory procedures for estimating the drop density on sampling 
cards are similar to those described in Section 4.2 above. In the laboratory, however, 
drop densities are estimated for all cards within the swath and more drops are counted 
on each card to improve accuracy. In addition to defining the drop density distri- 
bution in more detail, the distribution is used (see Section 5.3) to calculate mass 


recovery within the swath. 


The first step is to select the sampling cards to be analyzed. Using the re- 
sults obtained from preliminary counts made in the field (see Figure 4-2), select the 
card on each edge of the swath that shows a drop density below the density producing 
the requisite pesticide effectiveness. If this cannot be done from the preliminary 
data entered on the form shown in Figure 4-2, it may be necessary to count some 


cards near the swath edge to redefine the swath width before proceeding to determine 


the drop densities on all cards within the swath. 


For counting and sizing drops in the field laboratory, the template illustrated 
in Figure 5-1 and the measuring magnifier are used to count the drops. The 4,8, and 
16 square-centimeter areas are arranged on the template so that the top of the area to 


be counted is at the center of the card when the line at the top of the template labeled 


41 


oP 


3903 dYuVvo 
3903 GHyv9d 


FIGURE 5-1. 


Template for counting and sizing drops on sampler cards in the field laboratory, 


3903 GYuvo 


NW) > 


with the corresponding area is aligned with the top of the sampling card. ‘In the 
counting procedure, the whole area (4, 8 or 16 square centimeters) will be counted. 
Select an area which will result in at least 200 drops being counted. With a little 
experience, one can usually readily select the proper area to be counted by visual 
inspection of the card. After this selection has been made, the area to be counted 
should be examined for obvious anomalies that might affect the accuracy of the count. 
These anomalies include smeared drops, foreign matter on the card or shadows 
(absence of drops) where deposition has been prevented by a leaf or some other 
object. If anomalies occur, move the template to an unaffected portion of the card, 
Once an anomaly-free area has been found, anchor the template and card to the 
cork board with push pins. The results of the drop density count are recorded on 
the Drop Density and Mass Deposition Data Sheet shown in Figure 5-2. Record the 
trial number, row/line number and card number, and area being used for counting 


on this data sheet, 


When the measuring magnifier suggested for use in Section 2 is employed, 
stains less than 50 micrometers (um) in diameter should not be counted. If drops 
with stains less than 50 um are important in determining mass recovery (i.e., more 
than 5 percent of the mass distribution is comprised of drops with stain diameters 
less than 50 wm in diameter), a more precise instrument is required to count and 
measure the stains. As a general rule, drops with diameters a factor of three less 
than the volume median diameter (VMD) estimated in the field do not greatly contrib- 
ute to mass recovery. Thus, if the relationship between stain and drop diameter 
is given by an expression similar to Equation (4-1), the critical stain diameter can 


be calculated from 


(5-1) 


43 


FIGURE 5-2 
DROP DENSITY AND MASS DEPOSITION DATA 


Trial Number Average Mass Diameter (um) 
Row Number Mass (mg) 
; = eee 3 -2 

Conversion Factor: loz. acre = 1.427x10 mgem 


Area (cm?) Density _ % 


Mass Recovery (mg m7) 


Deposition Efficiency (percent) 


44 


where 


CD = critical stain diameter 


VMD = volume median diameter estimated in the field for a given 
trial 


a,b = constants from stain factor determination given in Equa- 
tion (4-1) 


If the value obtained for CD is less than 50 um, then a more precise instrument 


than the Bausch and Lomb measuring magnifier is required to count and size stains. 


The template areas in Figure 5-1 are divided into five columns to assist in 
counting the drops. Each column is counted using the measuring magnifier and the 
total number of drops for each column is noted on scratch paper. Stains that inter- 
sect the outer perimeter of the template area should be included in the count only if 
more than one-half of the area covered by a stain is inside the perimeter line. Stains 
that intersect the lines dividing the area into columns must be counted in only one 
column, usually by assigning them to the column at the left of the line no matter how 
much of the stain is contained in a column. After all five columns are counted, the 
results are summed and entered in the "Stain Count" column in Figure 5-2. Calcu- 
late the drop density by dividing the stain count by the template area used and enter 
the result in the 'Drop Density" column provided in the Figure. Count all cards 
included in the swath width. The columns labeled "Deposition" in Figure 5-2 will 


be completed after calculating the average mass diameter in Section 5.2 below. 


5.2 DETERMINATION OF THE SWATH DROP-SIZE DISTRIBUTION, MASS 
MEDIAN, AVERAGE MASS AND NUMBER MEAN DIAMETERS 


The mass median, average mass and number median diameters are deter- 


mined from the drop-size distribution for the swath. Experience has shown that the 


45 


drop spectrum analysis of 5 cards within the swath width is normally sufficient to 
estimate these parameters within 15 percent of the values that would have been 
obtained if all cards within the swath had been analyzed. The error is frequently 
less than 5 percent. The 5 cards for analysis are selected by using 1 card from 
each end of the swath, 1 card near the swath center and 1 card on each side of the 


center card located approximately half the distance between the end and center cards. 


Before the drops are counted and sized, the drop-size categories must be 


specified. 


Selection of Drop-Size Categories 


Normally, 8 to 10 drop-size categories are sufficient to adequately define 
the drop spectrum. The upper and lower limits of the stain size intervals must be 
determined before the stains are counted and sized. The following step-wise pro- 


cedure for selecting the limits of the stain size intervals is suggested: 


(1) Draw the line defining the relationship between stain and drop 
diameter on linear graph paper as shown in Figure 5-3, using 
Equation 4-1; in Figure 5-3, a=7.68, b=.199 and c=5,73 x 
107°, The curve should extend from the smallest-diameter 
stain to the largest-diameter stain counted in the "quick-look" 


field analysis. 


(2) Mark the position on the curve of the stain VMD estimated in 
the "quick-look" field analysis by the D-max method. For 
example, the point marked + in Figure 5-3 corresponds to 
a VMD stain diameter of 600 um or a drop diameter of 130 


um. 


46 


| ates — aes —— = + ee mgs ie <7 ef 

Oo (e) Oo Oo oO Oo 

(@} Oo oO ©) oO © 8 

© t q e) © © t 
(wn) Y3ZL3WVIC NIVLS 

} ? * 


100 140 180 220 260 300 340 
DROP DIAMETER (ym) 


60 


The + symbol is 
-max field analysis. 


FIGURE 5-3. Stain factor relationship for example trial data. 


D 


-look" 


quick 


" 


the stain VMD obtained from the 


47 


(3) 


(4) 


It should be noted that the basic graph shown in Figure 5-3 can be generated 


before the trials. 


(4-1) to convert the stain upper limits to drop-size upper limits. 


Having determined the drop-size categories, the drops on the cards can now 


Divide the line in Figure 5-3 into about five class inter- 
vals below the point marked + using standard intervals 
of 50 um, 100 um or multiples of 50 um. The measur- 
ing magnifier is not accurate if the class intervals are 
less than 50 um. For the example shown in Figure 5-3, 
the upper limits of the stain class intervals become 100, 
200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 um as shown by the abort 
horizontal lines. The lower limit of the smallest class 
interval should correspond to the smallest drop counted 


in the spray deposit density count. 


Divide the line in Figure 5-3 above the point marked + 
into five intervals using standard stain intervals of 50 um 
or 100 um or other multiples of 50 um. In the example 
shown in Figure 5-3, this procedure results in stain cat- 
egory upper limits of 800, 1000, 1200, 1400 and 1600 um. 
If the VMD estimated by the D-max method is less than 
100 micrometers, it may be necessary to divide the 
straight line above the point marked + into more than 


five intervals to obtain a representative mass distribution. 


shown in Figure 5-4 and use the stain factor equation relationship given by Equation 


size upper limits on the Drop Spectra Data sheet. 


be counted and sized. The template shown in Figure 5-1 is also used in making the 


48 


Enter the stain class intervals on the Drop Spectra Data sheet 


Enter the drop- 


67 


FIGURE 5-4 
DROP SPECTRA DATA 


Material 3 
Test 9 Row/Line Cc Spray Material DYLOX Density _1. 067 (g cm ) 
Analyst: John Doe Stain Factors: a= _ 7.68 » b=_0.199 , c=5.73x10-6 


~ NUMBER 
OF DROPS 


oe 
CARD NO. rae 
DROP DENSITY 
(drops em™?) 


par: ee 
TEMPLATE 
NUMBER 


OF DROPS 
DROP a 
| Ne | cm 
NUMBER 
OF DROPS 


DROP DENSITY 
(drops em~2) 


CARD NO, 
46 


TEMPLATE 
AREA 


8 cm 


10.380 6. 750 


on 11.38 7.500 


CARD NO, 

= = 
TEMPLATE 
AREA 


NUMBER 
OF DROPS 


CARD NO, 44 
aS ae 


7.375 7. 562 hs 


TEMPLATE 
AREA 


DROP DENSITY 


-2 13.12 
eet 4 cm“) 


os 


CARD NO. NUMBER 
pari oo OF DROPS 
TEMPLATE 
DROP DENSITY 
(drops em~2) 
NUMBER 
OF DROPS 


CARD NO. 


TEMPLATE 
AREA 
cm 


Mean Drop Diameter 
(um) 


Mean Drop Mass 
(mg) 


Sum of Drop Densities 
by Size Category 


Average Drop Densitics 


x 10-6 
44, 88 
by Size Catagory 


23.19 ls 
ical 
drops cm 


Cumulative Drop Densitics | 4.638 13.61 


3.152 | 2.86 
x10-5 | x10-4 


Cumulative Percent of 
Drop Densities 


Average Deposition hy 
Size Category (mg env) 


Cumulative Mass 3.177 

(mg) x107~4 

Cumulative Percent 
of Mass 


FIGURE 5-4 (Continued) 


Size Category 


0.375 


| 


i 
BREE 
ESR 


234.2 277.1 


1.113 | 2.703 
x107*|x 1074 


= . 


5.421 
x 1074 


9.486 | 1.924 
x10-4] x1073 


a aie 


2.350 0.4375 0, 1250 0.025 


8.5 
7.362 3.712 | 3.637 


86. 80 98.17 


32,60 32.6L | 32.64 


99.91 


1.486 
x 10-5 


1.736 
x 10-3 


8.971 
x10-4 


4.518 
x1074 


1, 207 
x 10-2 


96.05 96, 21 100 


drop spectra counts. Again, a minimum of 200 stains should be counted and sized 
using a procedure similar to the procedure described in Section 5.1 for obtaining 
drop densities, except that the measuring magnifier is used to size stains and clas~ 
sify them according to size intervals. After the card and template have been secured 
to the cork board with push pins, the magnifier is used to measure the drops in each 
column. Counting and sizing is best accomplished using two people, one to size drops 
and another to record each drop in terms of a size-category number on scratch paper. 
After the stains in each column are counted and sized, sum the number of stains in 
each category. When the counting and sizing of drops in all five columns of the 
selected area have been completed, the subtotals are added and the total number of 
stains in each size category entered on the form shown in Figure 5-4 er-each card 
analyzed. The example calculations in Figure 5-4 for Card Number 43 show that 41 
stains were counted in a 16 square-centimeter area of the template that were less } 
than 100 um in diameter, 118 stains were less than 200 um and equal to or greater 
than 100 um, etc. Inthe example, a total of 545 stains were counted on Card Number 
43 in the 16 square-centimeter area of the template. The 8 square-centimeter area 
of the template could have been used and more than 200 stains counted. Note that the 
8 square-centimeter area was used in analyzing the remaining four cards. The drop 
density for each size category is obtained by dividing the number of drops in the cate- 
gory by the template area used in the analysis. These drop densities are entered on 


the Drop Spectra Data sheet. 


After all five cards have been analyzed, determination of the drop-size dis- 
tribution parameters can proceed. For convenience in explaining the calculations, 
the rows used in these calculations on the Drop Spectra Data sheet have been iden- 


tified by the letters A through I. 


Row A - Mean Drop Diameter 


The volume mean drop diameter in each size category is calculated from 


the expression 


51 


2 2 3 
d,+d."d,+dd,+d 
= a 2 2 Loe (5-2 
4 ins 
where 
qd, = drop lower limit for the size category 
d, = drop upper limit for the size category 


For example, the entry in the first column of Row A is calculated as 


1/3 
a= jena” a 17.6)" Zhe LITAG (27. 6)" a 7.9) 
4 


23.0um 


Repeat the calculation for each size category and enter the result in the appropriate 


column of Row A. 


Row B - Mean Drop Mass 


The mean drop mass in milligrams for each size category is calculated from 


the relationship 


m = feo) na x 10°? 
(5-3) 
= 5,236 x10, @° 
where 
p  * density of spray material in grams per cubic centimeter 


52 


For the example shown in Figure 5-4, where the density of the spray material is 


1.067 grams per cubic centimeter, the entry in the first column of Row B is 


3 
i 


5,236 x 107° (1. 067) (23. 0)° 


6.797 x 10° milligrams 


Repeat the calculation for each size category and enter the result in the appropriate 


column of Row B. 


Row C - Sum of Drop Densities by Size Category 


The sum of drop densities by size category is obtained by summing the 
drop density in each size category over all the cards analyzed in the swath. In 


the example shown in Figure 5-4, the result for the first column in Row Cis 


2.562 + 5.500 + 8.625 + 5.500 + 1.000 23. 187 


23.19 


where 2,562 is the drop density from Card 43, size category 1, 5.5 is the drop 


density from Card 46, size category 1, etc. 


Repeat the summation procedure for each size category and enter the results 
in the appropriate column of Row C. 
Row D - Average Drop Densities by Size Category 


The average drop density in each size category is obtained by dividing the 
sum of drop densities in Row C by the number of cards included in the analysis 


(5 in this case). For the example shown in Figure 5-4, we thus obtain 


53 


which should be entered in the first column of Row Dfor size category 1. 


Repeat the calculation for each size category and enter the result in the 


appropriate column of Row D. 


Row E - Cumulative Drop Densities 


The cumulative drop densities shown in Row E of Figure 5-4 were calculated 
from the average densities recorded in Row D. The cumulative density recorded in 
each size category column of Row E is the cumulative sum up to and including the 
average drop density recorded for that size category in Row D. For the example 


shown in Figure 5-4 in Row E for category size 3, the cumulative drop density is 


4.638 + 8,976 + 7.362 = 20.976 = 20.98 


Continue the summation procedure across Row D until the cumulative density for each 
size category has been calculated and recorded in the appropriate column of Row E. 
Also, enter the cumulative sum for the largest category (32.64 in Figure 5-4) in the 


total columns of Row E. 


Row F - Cumulative Percent of Drop Densities 


The cumulative percent of drop densities is calculated for each size category 
by dividing the cumulative drop density for each category in Row E by the cumulative 
drop density in the Total Column of Row E and multiplying by 100. For the example 
in Figure 5-4, the cumulative percent in the first column of Row F for size category 1 


is 


54 


32.64. ° 100 = 14.21 percent 


Calculate the cumulative percent of drop densities for every size category and record 


the result in the appropriate column of Row F. 


Row G - Average Deposition by Size Category 


The average mass deposition by size category is calculated by multiplying 
the mean drop mass in a given size category in Row B by the corresponding ave rage 
drop density in Row D. Thus the average deposition for category 1 in Row G of 


Figure 5-4 was obtained from 


=6 -5 
(6.797 x 10 ) (4.638) = 3,152 x 10 milligrams per square 
centimeter 


Complete the calculation for each size category and enter the results in the appro- 


priate column of Row G. 
Row H - Cumulative Mass 


The cumulative mass for each size category shown in Row H of Figure 5-4 
is calculated from the average deposition values recorded in Row G. The cumulative 
mass recorded in each size category column of Row H is the cumulative sum up to 
and including the average deposition recorded for that size category in Row G. For 
the example shown in Figure 5-4 in Row H for size category 3, the cumulative mass 


is 


4 3 


=5 - - - 
3.125 x 10° + 2,862 x 10 + 8.194 x 10 + 1.137 x 10 


55 


Continue the summation procedure across Row G until the cumulative mass for each 
size category has been calculated and recorded in the appropriate column of Row H. 
Also enter the cumulative sum for the largest category (1.207 x ic in Figure 5-1) 


in the Total column for Row H. 


Row I - Cumulative Percent of Mass 


: The cumulative percent of mass is calculated for each size category by 
dividing the cumulative mass for each category in Row H by the cumulative mass 
in the Total column of Row H and multiplying by 100. For the example shown in 
Figure 5-4, the cumulative percent in the first column of Row I for size category 
1 is 

3.152 x 10° 


=9 x 100 = 0,26 percent 
1.207 x 10 


Calculate the cumulative percent of mass for each size category and record the result 


in the appropriate column of Row I. 


Mass and Volume Median Diameter 


The mass median diameter is the drop diameter that divides the spray de- 
position distribution into two equal parts by mass. Thus, 50 percent of the mass 
deposited in the swath is due to deposition from drops with diameters greater than 
the mass median diameter and 50 percent is due to deposition from drops with 
diameters less than the mass median diameter. The mass median diameter is ob- 
tained from a graph of the cumulative percent of mass from Row I of Figure 5-4 
plotted as a function of the drop upper limit for the size category on logarithmic 


probability paper. 


56 


Figure 5-5 shows the example distribution from Row I of Figure 5-4 plotted 
on 2-cycle log probability paper. The first point at the lower left of Figure 5-5 cor- 
responds to a cumulative percent of mass of 0.26 percent from Row I and size cate- 
gory 1, where the drop upper limit is 27.6 um. After all the points are plotted for 
cumulative percentages less than about 95 percent, connect the points on the graph. 
The mass median diameter is the diameter where the mass distribution curve inter- 
sects the 50-percent line on the plot. As shown in Figure 5-5, the mass median 
diameter for the example is about 125 um. Since the mass and volume median diam- 
eters are equivalent (density is linear with drop size), the volume median diameter 


is also 125 um. 


Average Mass Diameter 


The average mass diameter (AMD) is calculated from the expression 


= 1/3 
AMD = 10° £D_ 
Tp Ny 
3 D 1/3 
AMD = 1.2407 x 10 = (5-4) 
PND 
where 
D = Total cumulative mass deposited on all cards from the Total 
column of Row H in Figure 5-4 
Ny = Total cumulative drop density of all cards from the Total 


column of Row E in Figure 5-4 


57 


8g 


400 


300 


200 


DROPLET DIAMETER (pm) 
“S 
Oo 


20} - = 


10 
0.2 05 


FIGURE 5-5. 


c 
} 
i 


Se Se ae eee 
5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 
CUMULATIVE MASS (percent ) 


Cumulative mass distribution for the example trial. The symbol + marks the 
median of the cumulative mass distribution. 


Thus, for the example distribution in Figure 5-4 


1.207 x 10°" 1/3 


7 3 
AMD 1.2407 x 10 | aa es 


= 87um 


Number Median Diameter 


The number median diameter (NMD) is the drop diameter which divides 
the spray deposition distribution into two equal parts by number of drops counted. 
Thus, 50 percent of the total number of drops deposited in the swath have diameters 
greater than the number median diameter and 50 percent have diameters less than the 
number median diameter. The number median diameter is obtained from a graph of 
the cumulative percent of drop densities from Row F of Figure 5-4 as a function of 


the drop upper limit for the size category on logarithmic probability paper. 


Figure 5-6 shows the example distribution from Row F of Figure 5-4 
plotted on 2-cycle probability paper. The first point at the lower left of Figure 5-6 
corresponds to a cumulative percent of drop densities of 14.21 percent from Row F 
and size category 1 where the drop upper limit is 27.6 wm. After all the points are 
plotted for cumulative percents less than about 95 percent, connect the points on the 
graph. The number median diameter is defined at the point where the number distrib- 
ution curve intersects the 50-percent line on the plot. As shown by the + symbol in 


Figure 5-6, the number median diameter for the example is about 54 um. 


The preceeding calculations were performed using an electronic calculator 
with scientific notation, a memory and the capability of raising numbers to fractional 


powers. In Section 2, it was recommended that a desk-top programmable calculator 


59 


98 99 


90. 95 


70 80 


20 30 40 50 60 


ie) 


OOO) ©- © 
oor o wo 


40 
30 
20 


2 
= 


400 
300 
200 


(wt) yYsI3WVIO 137d0Na 


CUMULATIVE NUMBER (percent) 


The + sym- 


Cumulative number distribution for the example trial. 


bol denotes the number median diameter. 


FIGURE 5-6. 


60 


be available for use by the field-project crew. If such a calculator we . available, 
most or all of the calculations performed in this section could be completely auto- 
mated so that an operator need only enter the material density, upper drop limits, 
card number, number of drops counted in each size category and the area counted. 
Automated calculation capabilities greatly reduce both the time required to complete 


the analysis and the chances that errors will be made in the analysis. 


Der e ESTIMATION OF SPRAY SYSTEM DEPOSITION, DEPOSITION EFFICIENCY 
(MASS RECOVERY) AND SWATH WIDTH BASED ON MASS DEPOSITION 


The mean mass diameter calculated in Section 5.2 above, the drop density 
distribution in the swath from Figure 5-2, and the aircraft dissemination information 
can be used to estimate spray system deposition, mass recovery within the swath and 
deposition efficiency. Figure 5-7 is a copy of Figure 5-2 in Section 5.1, the Drop 
Density and Mass Deposition Data sheet, with data entered from the same trial used 
as an example in Section 5.2 for calculating swath parameters. The card numbers, 
template areas counted, number of stains counted and drop densities were entered in 


the form according to the procedures outlined in Section 5.1. 


The deposition occurring on each card is obtained under the assumption 
that the mass distribution calculated in Section 5.2 is representative of the distribu- 
tion on each card in the swath. Thus, the mean mass of all drops on the card is 


assumed to be 
a ~1 : 
m = 5.236 x 10 0) (AMD)? (5-5) 


where AMD is the average mass diameter calculated from Equation (5-4). 


For the example trial, 


61 


FIGURE 5-7 
DROP DENSITY AND MASS DEPOSITION DATA 


Trial Number _ 9 Average Mass Diameter 87.15 (um) 
eee =4 
Row Number C Mass 3.698 X 10 “(mg) 
: -1 _ 3 | =2 
Conversion Factor: 10z. acre = 1.427x10 mgcm 


D siti 
Template rop Deposition 


: >) Density “ae 
Area (cm") (drops cm 2) (mg em7”) 


4.44 1.641x10°° 2.342 


8.13 3.005x10— 4,288 
9.81 3.629x10 5.178 
19.00 7.026xX10— 10. 026 
34.06 1.260x10 17. 975 
$7.13 1.373x1072 19.591 
37.00 1. 368x10_ 19,525 
30.38 1.123x10- 16. 029 
39.00 1.442x10° 20.580 
40.38 1.49310 5 21. 306 
$2.13 1, 188x105 16. 952 
33.38 1.234x10 17. 612 
35.13 1.299x10° 18.535 
39.63 1.465 x10_ 20. 910 
36.13 1.38610 19. 063 
39.75 1.470 X10 20. 976 
35.88 1. 327x10° 18. 931 
32.25 1.193x10 17.018 
25.63 9.476x10_ 13.522 
11.50 4.253x10 6. 068 


ot ot 
Qa 


a 
fo oon) 


8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
6 


: 306. 427 


1 


3 as 
Mass Recovery 5. 6684 10 (mgm ~) 


Deposition Efficiency 18. 66 (percent) 


62 


-10 3 
m = 5.236 x 10. (1.067) (87.15) 


-4 
= 3.698 x 26 mg 


This value is entered in the space provided for mass at the top of the form shown in 
Figure 5-7. The deposition on each card is then calculated by multiplying the mean 
mass m by the drop density for each card. For Card Number 42 


4 


— 


7.026 x 107° mg cm 


19.00 x 3.698x10 


Using the conversion factor to obtain ounces per acre, we obtain 


3 


it 


7.026 x 107° mg _ x 1.427 x10 10. 03 ounces 


2 acre 
cm 


The multiplication is completed for each card in the swath and the results entered 


on the data sheet. 


The total mass recovery along the sampling line is calculated by summing 
the deposition from all cards in the swath and multiplying by the separation distance 
between cards. In this example, the card spacing was 10 feet (304. 8 centimeters). 
The sum of the deposition is shown in the row labeled Total on the data sheet. There- 


fore, the total mass recovery along the sampling line is 


.21474 mg x 304.8cm = 65.453 mg 


2 cm 
cm 


63 


or 6,5453 x 10° mg m”? - The sampling line in this example case was not at right 
angles to the mean wind direction during the trial or to the flight path of the aircraft 
into the wind. Figure 5-8 is a schematic diagram showing that the wind direction 
was at an angle of 33 degrees with a line perpendicular to sampling line C. There- 
fore, the deposition integrated across the sampling line is greater than the mass 
recovered across the swath as represented by the dashed line at right angles to the 


wind direction in Figure 5-8. The corrected mass recovery is 


6.5453 x 10°mg x cos (33°) = 5.6684 x 10°mg 
m m 


The deposition efficiency in the swath can be calculuted using the mass 
recovery in the swath and the aircraft dissemination information. In the example 
trial, the aircraft was releasing 36.3 gallons of spray material per minute at an 


airspeed of 90 miles per hour. Converting these data into milligrams released 


per unit length of flight path, we obtain 


18,15 gat hours - mile 60 min » 3785. gem” Oe 10° mi 
min 90 miles 1609. 3m hour gal 


= 3.037 x 10 age mn 


The deposition efficiency is then calculated to be 


3 
car x 100 = 18.66percent 
é x 


When the deposition producing pesticide effectiveness is known, the minimum 


effective swath width where deposition exceeds the effective deposition is easily de- 


64 


FIGURE 5-8. Schematic diagram showing wind direction with respect to sampling 
line C for the example trial. 


65 


termined from the information on the Drop Density and Mass Deposition Data sheet 
shown in Figure 5-7. A plot of the deposition shown in the table versus card number 
is given in Figure 5-9. For example, suppose the effective pesticide deposition is 
60 ounces per acre. Since the samplers were separated by 10 feet in this trial, the 


effective swath width is 


168 feet x cos (33°) = 145.5 feet 


after correction for the angle of wind direction with respect to the sampling line. 


66 


L9 
DEPOSITION (ounces/acre) 


220 
200 
180 
I60 
140 
120 
100 
80 
60 
40 


20 
38 


40 42 44 46 48 5O 52 54 56 
CARD NUMBER 


FIGURE 5-9. Deposition in ounces per acre across the sampling line for the example trial, 


58 


REFERENCES 


Morris, A. L., D. B. Call and R. B. McBeth, 1975: A small tethered balloon 


sounding system. Bulletin American Meteorological Society, Volume 56, 
Number 9, p. 964. 


Maksymiuk, Bohdan, 1964: A rapid method for estimating the atomization of vil- 


base aerial sprays. Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 57, No. 1, 
p. 16. 


68 


APPENDIX B 
WIND MEASUREMENTS 


Table B-1 contains a summary of 30-second average wind directions and 
wind speeds for the spray characterization trials conducted near Townsend, Montana. 
The measurements were made at a height of 2 meters using Beckman and Whitley 
sensors and Esterline-Angus recorders. Data from Trials 1, 4 and 8 were not 
analyzed. Only 5-minute average wind directions and speeds are given for Trials 2 
and 3 because the recorders were operating at a low speed for these trials and more 


detailed estimates could not be made. 


TABLE B-1 
WIND MEASUREMENTS FOR THE TOWNSEND TRIALS 


Wind Direction Wind Speed 
(degrees) (mph) 


aqmjooaanad oe 


Us 
8. 
1. 
ls 
es 
7. 
se 
7 

6. 
6. 


TABLE B-1 (Continued) 


Wind Direction Wind Speed 
(degrees) (mph) 


(Continued) 


4 

5. 
4, 
4. 
5. 
5. 
5. 
4. 
5. 
5. 


ogogagaaoua ano ul 


° 


aonFrF UI nanon 
ef er en. ert Mer (ve era ie 
eo oOo @ © .o © aS © cn 


TABLE B-1 (Continued) 


Wind Direction Wind Speed 
(degrees) (mph) 


SccoonNnconuamo 


annruanoacon 


2 

3 

3. 
2. 
2. 
2. 
3. 
2. 
2. 
2. 


. 
oooococoouce 


NNNNNNN YD LD 
. a ae ee ° s 


BH 


TABLE E-1 (Continued) 


Wind Direction Wind Speed 
(degrees) (mph) 


Sa IN Sn Go O.9 


2. 
5. 
4. 
4 

3. 
2. 
3. 
2. 
2. 
2. 


oudaqa ono o qo uo 


PrP Po a a & CO © 
ieee ita Sane, . e . 
aoouunruarnana wa © 


TABLE B-1 (Continued) 


Wind Direction Wind Speed 
(degrees) (mph) 


ww NM DY w& & & w Ww w 
oon ooo au > 


.5 
0 
0 

3) 

0 

Aa) 

0 

-0 

0 

-0 


ouowmoonowoowoao I 
Sie oF 6 ay weer. “e . 
ooo ooo uc oOo Ul 


APPENDIX C 


FIELD LABORATORY ESTIMATES OF 
SPRAY DEPOSIT DENSITIES 


This appendix contains a tabulation of spray deposit densities estimated 
for each card in the swath during 16 of the spray characterization trials conducted 
near Townsend, Montana. These estimates were made in the field laboratory at 
Townsend using procedures described in Section 2 of the main body of the report. 
No density estimates are presented for Trials 1, 4 and 8. The deposition data for 
Trial 1 were invalid because the helicopter spray system was not purged of water. 
Trial 4 was the last trial in a series of morning trials in which the elevated position 
of the cards relative to the ground caused the stains to be elongated making the anal- 
ysis of spray characteristics other than spray deposit density difficult. Because the 
relatively high wind speed during Trial 4 increased the elongation of stains on the 
cards, the data were not analyzed. In Trial 8, the spray helicopter flew crosswind 
and the sampling grid was not adequate for estimating spray deposit densities in the 


swath, 


TABLE C-1 


SPRAY DEPOSIT DENSITIES FOR THE TOWNSEND 
SPRAY CHARACTERIZATION TRIALS 


Card Drop Drop Card Drop 
Number Density _ Density -2 Number Density _ 
(Drops cm (Drops cm_) (Drops cm . 


BP OU. 3) CO ge 
BPrPeEPPPrPPAN PPAR RP WAT DOHF OO 


Trial 5 


6 
4. 
3 
4. 
4 
3 
4. 
4 
4 
3 
3 
3. 
3 


oO 


. e e 


— 
ONIP OR RAOUL PAO 
. . . ce «@ 

wndornrowoanrtreo 


TABLE C-1 (Continued) 


Drop Drop 
Density Density 
(Drops cm~2) (Drops cm72) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops cm72) 


Card 
Number 


Nn et eo a ee ee ae ote 
wmuUnmwon oo wp 


Dae] 
a 


FOOrRrrFOrRFKR RFA RP DEF WWOONR@DARKRRDWOR 


.3 
io 
4 
al 
.3 
«6 
.3 
Ale 
23 
a 
4 
ap 
9 
9 
ru | 
5 
9 
.6 
AAS) 
«6 
Aas: 
4 
.3 
«8 


ee a el ey er is lek os Me en Oe. et ers OOS. el Le iets viet etl an te 
WBF ONWEHFARWAARARANUNUN MO PN HP KE KH OH 


eet) las et Aue cot cee te 
OrnrF © Oe Oo 


TABLE C-1 (Continued) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops cm™2) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops cm72) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops cm~2) 


Card 
Number 


Card 
Number 


wWwwwn > 
oor nr © 


bo bo 
ao 


18 
15 
17 
15 
13 
10 
16 
11 
10 


ao 
st 


Se 
ORWOROTHEHEwDAARHOHWWHOANDAHONHD 


Trial 12 


Ce Os AO Oy NO RCO Ue On ne ae wae cer ee ea ete 
NNO DNWAUMOWAONNDTWHWHWRrROAAKFAWHOrRAN DD 


ore oe ee 


Trial 11 


WORE DPR RPOZORANWW RO W 
oowoaoaorrk wow 


FO ONnNNnNnWHLDOD 
ee ie ee ee sc .s 


a 


C+ 


TABLE C-1 (Continued) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops em~2) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops cm72) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops em72) 


Card 
Number 


Card 
Number 


a 
os 


ee 
bo 
NDF ENNNNNNNHPHHE HE 
CMMORADONGHHwDAONA 
OR DODRFONKHF WAH DAWWAWAOONDHDHOHPNONCOS 


iJ) 
= 


0. 
9. 
9. 
4. 
8. 
9. 
0. 
0. 


5 
6 
4 
4 
7 
8 
1 
6 
3 
8 
4 
8 
7 
ay 
4 
8 


il oe 
: 


pew po x 


Lia 13 Trial 14 


TABLE C-1 (Continued) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops em?) 


Drop 
Density | 
(Drops cm~*) 


Drop 
Density 
(Drops em72) 


Card 
Number 


Card 
Number 


Card 
Number 


63 
64 


Trial 18 


a 
PND 


NHR eH 
HE cor 


dD bv 
e pO 


ADPmOAWBWHAWHREHDWOCOWSO 


1) 
co 


Trial 16 


SP PD WC DO 
oOo © WY C 


WP WP Ww 

OoOnnvNra 

2) So. eee ee SC eee ier ew 6 Mee a Se) le ten 2 Seb us 
FWmMUNUNRDWAOROH@AHAWUAWWARWNO 


on yp 
oo 


ew 
Ce 
Go © 


<2 
8 

Re 

.6 

3 

4 

5 

4 

.3 

me 

0 

.3 

-9 25 
3 29 
4 

4 

5 

6 

.0 

6 

5 

al 

5 

8 

:3 

6 

9 

8 


Suck) Cis We. So es ee Se Cle Ss. ate, le 
OrRNFP UO DWMArFRFWRUDONF DOCK 


TABLE C-1 (Continued) 


Drop Drop Drop 
Density Density Density 
(Drops cm~2) (Drops cm~2) (Drops em=2) 


oe ee 


ANF OaANoOrnnarorg 


io 
Cro 
: 


2 
4 
2. 
8. 
4 
5