13 research outputs found
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 spatial and temporal resolution increase our understanding of these interactions, but are still challenging to measure appropriately. Traditional ground-based observations include towers that often cover only few measurement heights on a fixed location. At the same time, remote sensing techniques and aircraft measurements are challenged to achieve sufficient detail close to the ground. Vertical and horizontal sounding 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 to simultaneously support the spatial sampling of air and 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 were found during stable atmospheric conditions with a gradient of about 300 ppb. 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 five
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 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
The ScaleX campaign: scale-crossing land-surface and boundary layer processes in the TERENO-preAlpine observatory
Augmenting long-term ecosystem-atmosphere observations with multidisciplinary intensive campaigns aims at closing gaps in spatial and temporal scales of observation for energy- and biogeochemical cycling, and at stimulating collaborative research. ScaleX is a collaborative measurement campaign, co-located with a long-term environmental observatory of the German TERENO (TERrestrial ENvironmental Observatories) network in mountainous terrain of the Bavarian Prealps, Germany. The aims of both TERENO and ScaleX include the measurement and modeling of land-surface atmosphere interactions of energy, water, and greenhouse gases. ScaleX is motivated by the recognition that long-term intensive observational research over years or decades must be based on well-proven, mostly automated measurement systems, concentrated on a small number of locations
Le Conservateur bazadais : journal politique, commercial, agricole et financier
05 avril 18841884/04/05 (N113)-1884/04/05