A small unmanned aerial system (UAS) for coastal atmospheric research: preliminary results from New Zealand

Abstract

Experiments conducted in the low-altitude coastal atmosphere in New Zealand have demonstrated the potential of a new unmanned aerial system (UAS) for meteorological research. The Kahu unmanned aerial vehicle flies autonomously using GPS and pre-programmed waypoints, collecting observations of air temperature and relative humidity that are relayed to a ground-station near-instantaneously. Experiments conducted in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, show that the Kahu's radio transmission system can successfully transmit data across the ocean surface at distances up to 25 km. Accuracy of the meteorological data collected by the UAS was assessed via a direct comparison with weather station sensors and radiosonde soundings at heights of up to 500 m in the Bay of Plenty. Close agreement between the UAS, radiosonde and weather station data suggests that the Kahu UAS has considerable scope as a new field research tool in New Zealand, capable of providing reliable atmospheric data that can complement and even supplement conventional low-altitude sampling techniques.