Simultaneous multicopter-based air sampling and sensing of meteorological variables
The state and composition of the lowest part of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), i.e., the atmospheric surface layer (SL), reflects the interactions of external forcing, land surface, vegetation, human influence and the atmosphere. Vertical profiles of atmospheric variables in the SL at high...
| Published in: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2017-08-01
|
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/2773/2017/amt-10-2773-2017.pdf |
| Summary: | The state and composition of the lowest part of the
planetary boundary layer (PBL), i.e., the atmospheric surface layer (SL),
reflects the interactions of external forcing, land surface, vegetation,
human influence and the atmosphere. Vertical profiles of atmospheric
variables in the SL at high spatial (meters) and temporal (1 Hz and better)
resolution increase our understanding of these interactions but are still
challenging to measure appropriately. Traditional ground-based observations
include towers that often cover only a few measurement heights at a fixed
location. At the same time, most remote sensing techniques and aircraft
measurements have limitations to achieve sufficient detail close to the
ground (up to 50 m). Vertical and horizontal transects of the PBL can be
complemented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Our aim in this case study
is to assess the use of a multicopter-type UAV for the spatial sampling of
air and simultaneously the sensing of meteorological variables for the study
of the surface exchange processes. To this end, a UAV was equipped with
onboard air temperature and humidity sensors, while wind conditions were
determined from the UAV's flight control sensors. Further, the UAV was used
to systematically change the location of a sample inlet connected to a
sample tube, allowing the observation of methane abundance using a
ground-based analyzer. Vertical methane gradients of about 0.3 ppm
were found during stable atmospheric conditions. Our results showed that
both methane and meteorological conditions were in agreement with other
observations at the site during the ScaleX-2015 campaign. The
multicopter-type UAV was capable of simultaneous in situ sensing of
meteorological state variables and sampling of air up to 50 m above the
surface, which extended the vertical profile height of existing tower-based
infrastructure by a factor of 5. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |