This Special Issue provides the first literature collection focused on the development and implementation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their integration with sensors for atmospheric measurements on Earth. The research covered in the Special Issue combines chemical, physical, and meteorological measurements performed in field campaigns as well as conceptual and laboratory work. Useful examples for the development of platforms and autonomous systems for environmental studies are provided, which demonstrate how careful the operation of sensors aboard UAS must be to gather information for remote sensing in the atmosphere. The work serves as a key collection of articles to introduce the topic to new researchers interested in the field, guide future studies, and motivate measurements to improve our understanding of Earth’s complex atmosphere. The next section summarizes the key information of individual contributions

Guzman, Marcelo I.

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge Chemistry Faculty Publications Chemistry 11-9-2020 Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Marcelo I. Guzman University of Kentucky, marcelo.guzman@uky.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub  Part of the Atmospheric Sciences Commons, Chemistry Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, and the Fluid Dynamics Commons Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits you. Repository Citation Guzman, Marcelo I., "Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)" (2020). Chemistry Faculty Publications. 169. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub/169 This Editorial is brought to you for free and open access by the Chemistry at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chemistry Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Digital Object Identifier (DOI) https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11111208 Notes/Citation Information Published in Atmosphere, v. 11, issue 11, 1208. © 2020 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This editorial is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_facpub/169 atmosphereEditorialAtmospheric Measurements with Unmanned AerialSystems (UAS)Marcelo I. GuzmanDepartment of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; marcelo.guzman@uky.edu;Tel.: +1-(859)-323-2892Received: 24 October 2020; Accepted: 5 November 2020; Published: 9 November 20201. IntroductionThis Special Issue provides the first literature collection focused on the development andimplementation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their integration with sensors for atmosphericmeasurements on Earth. The research covered in the Special Issue combines chemical, physical,and meteorological measurements performed in field campaigns as well as conceptual and laboratorywork. Useful examples for the development of platforms and autonomous systems for environmentalstudies are provided, which demonstrate how careful the operation of sensors aboard UAS must beto gather information for remote sensing in the atmosphere. The work serves as a key collectionof articles to introduce the topic to new researchers interested in the field, guide future studies,and motivate measurements to improve our understanding of Earth’s complex atmosphere. The nextsection summarizes the key information of individual contributions.2. Summary of This Special IssueThe changing atmospheric composition by emitted greenhouse gases (GHGs) constitutes one ofthe major challenges faced by societies, and the contribution of UAS to study this problem [1] is thesubject of the opening article of this Special Issue. The article revised the use of UAS to accuratelyreport sources and magnitudes of GHGs emission at low altitudes (<100 m) with spatiotemporalresolution on the order of meters and seconds [1]. The most relevant classes of UAS were evaluated forthe operation of gas detectors such as laser-absorption techniques, and metal-oxide semiconductorand catalytic sensors. Special emphasis was provided to explain the importance of calibration andvalidation of lightweight analytical systems mounted on UAS for quantifying atmospheric gases [1]and thermodynamic parameters [2]. Relevant limits of detection and range for measurements of ozone,carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and volatile organiccompounds were provided [1].As one of the most important and rapidly increasing GHGs, methane can leak to the atmospherefrom natural gas systems. Golston et al. and Yang et al. provided an innovative method andalgorithm for locating and quantifying continuous leaks as low as 2 standard cubic feet of methaneper hour with an UAS equipped with a methane sensor [3,4]. Careful considerations for sampling,i.e., wind effects, variable leak magnitudes, etc., as well as validation of the method and errors werediscussed [3,4]. Cost considerations for the implementation of UAS with sensors for atmosphericstudies were evaluated together with the regulations to operate small UAS internationally to studyatmospheric composition [1].Recent progress in sensor integration and location highlights the importance of sample aspirationand solar shielding, calibration/validation, and vehicle operation for boundary layer profiling for largecollaborations [2]. Furthermore, Hemingway et al. discussed an effective strategy to sample verticalprofiles with UAS for collecting information on physical variables, i.e., temperature (3 m) and humidityAtmosphere 2020, 11, 1208; doi:10.3390/atmos11111208 www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphereAtmosphere 2020, 11, 1208 2 of 3(2 m) in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) [5]. A recent field study by Zhou et al. comparedthe results from UAS measurements to ground-based stations and satellite remote sensing platforms,to assess the mechanisms for a pollution episode in the city of Nanjing, China [6]. Computational fluiddynamics (CFD) simulations contributed to optimize the mounting location of sensors to minimize airdisturbance by propellers [6]. Meteorological conditions that favor the accumulation of particulatematter with diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) were identified for long distance transport of pollutants fromthe Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region [6].A challenge to study the ABL with UAS is determining the turbulent tridimensional (3D) windvector. An important article of the Special Issue by Witte et al. described the development of an UASfor measuring turbulence in the ABL, which was capable of computing the time-dependent wind speedwhile flying [7]. For this purpose, a five-hole probe velocity sensor was used to combine data from thedifferent sensors [7]. Rautenberg et al. compared commonly used wind speed and direction estimationalgorithms with the direct 3D wind vector measurement using a five-hole probe [8]. An excitingresearch project for studying the ABL over the Arctic was introduced by Kral et al. [9]. Flight missionswith high vertical resolution combined the use of fixed and rotary wing UAS, which were supplementedby ground-based observations of eddy covariance, automatic weather stations and remote sensinginstrumentation [9]. Bärfuss et al. introduced a flexible UAS for sampling the ABL with sensors fortemperature, humidity, 3D wind vector, position, black carbon, irradiance and atmospheric particles [10].Finally, challenging the original conception of this Special Issue, an interesting consideration for theuse of a sounding rocket alternative platform with a satellite navigation system was provided [11].Such a platform can enable fast and precise meteorological data acquisition of complete trajectoriesfrom 20 to 60 km altitude [11].3. ConclusionsThe eleven contributions of this Special Issue discussed different atmospheric problems andstrategies to study them with small UAS. The articles should be of interest to the atmospheric sciencescommunity at large, both for instruction of graduate level courses, and to inspire new research thatwill improve the current understanding of our atmosphere.Funding: This work received no external funding.Conflicts of Interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.References1. Schuyler, T.J.; Guzman, M.I. Unmanned Aerial Systems for Monitoring Trace Tropospheric Gases. Atmosphere2017, 8, 206. [CrossRef]2. Jacob, J.D.; Chilson, P.B.; Houston, A.L.; Smith, S.W. Considerations for Atmospheric Measurements withSmall Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 252. [CrossRef]3. Golston, L.M.; Aubut, N.F.; Frish, M.B.; Yang, S.; Talbot, R.W.; Gretencord, C.; McSpiritt, J.; Zondlo, M.A.Natural Gas Fugitive Leak Detection Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Localization and Quantification ofEmission Rate. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 333. [CrossRef]4. Yang, S.; Talbot, R.W.; Frish, M.B.; Golston, L.M.; Aubut, N.F.; Zondlo, M.A.; Gretencord, C.; McSpiritt, J.Natural Gas Fugitive Leak Detection Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle: Measurement System Descriptionand Mass Balance Approach. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 383. [CrossRef]5. Hemingway, B.L.; Frazier, A.E.; Elbing, B.R.; Jacob, J.D. Vertical Sampling Scales for Atmospheric BoundaryLayer Measurements from Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). Atmosphere 2017, 8, 176. [CrossRef]6. Zhou, S.; Peng, S.; Wang, M.; Shen, A.; Liu, Z. The Characteristics and Contributing Factors of Air Pollution inNanjing: A Case Study Based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Experiment and Multiple Datasets. Atmosphere2018, 9, 343. [CrossRef]7. Witte, B.M.; Singler, R.F.; Bailey, S.C.C. Development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for the Measurement ofTurbulence in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer. Atmosphere 2017, 8, 195. [CrossRef]Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1208 3 of 38. Rautenberg, A.; Graf, M.S.; Wildmann, N.; Platis, A.; Bange, J. Reviewing Wind Measurement Approachesfor Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 422. [CrossRef]9. Kral, S.T.; Reuder, J.; Vihma, T.; Suomi, I.; O’Connor, E.; Kouznetsov, R.; Wrenger, B.; Rautenberg, A.;Urbancic, G.; Jonassen, M.O.; et al. Innovative Strategies for Observations in the Arctic AtmosphericBoundary Layer (ISOBAR)—The Hailuoto 2017 Campaign. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 268. [CrossRef]10. Bärfuss, K.; Pätzold, F.; Altstädter, B.; Kathe, E.; Nowak, S.; Bretschneider, L.; Bestmann, U.; Lampert, A.New Setup of the UAS ALADINA for Measuring Boundary Layer Properties, Atmospheric Particles andSolar Radiation. Atmosphere 2018, 9, 28. [CrossRef]11. Zhou, L.; Sheng, Z.; Fan, Z.; Liao, Q. Data Analysis of the TK-1G Sounding Rocket Installed with a SatelliteNavigation System. Atmosphere 2017, 8, 199. [CrossRef]Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutionalaffiliations.© 2020 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open accessarticle distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

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Atmospheric Measurements with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

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