Abstract
Rotary-wing small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are increasingly being used for sampling thermodynamic and chemical properties of the Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) because of their ability to measure at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Therefore, they have the potential to be used for long-term quasi-continuous monitoring of the ABL, which is critical for improving ABL parameterizations and improving numerical weather prediction (NWP) models through data assimilation. Before rotary-wing aircraft can be used for these purposes, however, their performance and the sensors used therein must be adequately characterized. In the present study, we describe recent calibration and validation procedures for thermodynamic sensors used on two rotary-wing aircraft: A DJI S-1000 and MD4-1000. These evaluations indicated a high level of confidence in the on-board measurements. We then used these measurements to characterize the spatiotemporal variability of near-surface (up to 300-m AGL) temperature and moisture fields as a component of two recent field campaigns: The Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment in the Southeast U.S. (VORTEX-SE) in Alabama, and the Land Atmosphere Feedback Experiment (LAFE) in northern Oklahoma.
Highlights
Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) has traditionally been difficult to sample, yet adequately representing the physical processes occurring within it is essential to weather forecasting
We implemented calibration and validation procedures to evaluate thermodynamic sensors used on two rotary-wing small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)
Vertical profiles with the sUAS were used during the Land Atmosphere Feedback Experiment (LAFE) and VORTEX-SE field experiments to provide finescale details on the evolution of the temperature and moisture structure of the lower ABL
Summary
Earth’s atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) has traditionally been difficult to sample, yet adequately representing the physical processes occurring within it is essential to weather forecasting. Despite its proximity to the ground, the ABL still presents a significant observation gap Closing this gap is essential in many weather forecasting applications. Within about the past five years have rotary-wing sUAS been used for ABL research. These characteristics make them an ideal choice for quasi-continuous ABL monitoring Before these rotary-wing sUAS can be reliably used, their performance and the sensors used therein must be adequately characterized. We focused on the use of rotary-wing sUAS to obtain information on spatial and temporal variations in near-surface thermodynamic fields. We first evaluated the accuracy and precision of thermodynamic sensors commonly used on rotary-wing sUAS, and evaluated the iMet-XQ sensor, which measures temperature, humidity, and pressure. We addressed the above research questions using sUAS measurements obtained during two recent field campaigns: The Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment in the Southeast U.S (VORTEX-SE) in northern Alabama, and the Land Atmosphere Feedback Experiment (LAFE) in northern Oklahoma
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