Accurate observations of atmospheric turbulence and surface-atmosphere exchange of energy and chemical compounds are critical to further the science of atmospheric boundary layers and thereby improve weather, climate and air quality forecasts. Small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) can be used to observe boundary-layer (mixing) depth, winds, and a variety of meteorological and chemical parameters over both terrestrial and aquatic surfaces. Research opportunities will be targeted to (1) development of instrument packages and sensors to observe lower atmospheric processes and surface-atmosphere exchange, (2) evaluation and development of analytical tools using these measurements, and (3) comparisons of sUAS and ground-based observations over various terrain and ecosystem types.
References
Lee, T. R., Dumas, E., Buban, M. S., Baker, C. B., Neuhaus, J., Rogers, M., Chappelle, N., Marwine, C., Swanson, M., Amaral, C., Hall, P. (2019). Improved sampling of the atmospheric boundary layer using small unmanned aircraft systems: results from the Avon Park Experiment. NOAA Tech Memo OAR ARL 279; 22 p., https://doi.org/10.25923/a5kx-ap26.
McFarquhar, G. M., Smith, E., Pillar-Little, E. A., Brewster, K., Chilson, P. B., Lee, T. R., Waugh, S., Yussouf, N., Wang, X., Xue, M., de Boer, G., Gibbs, J. A., Fiebrich, C., Baker, B., Brotzge, J., Carr, F., Christophersen, H., Fengler, M., Hall, P., Hock, T., Houston, A., Huck, R., Jacob, J., Palmer, R., Quinn, P. K., Wagner, M., Zhang, Y., & Hawk, D. (2020). Current and Future Uses of UAS for Improved Forecasts/Warnings and Scientific Studies,. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 101, E1322–E1328, https://doi. org/10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0015.1.
Boundary layer; Fluxes; Turbulence; Thermodynamics; Surface-atmosphere exchange; Uncrewed aircraft systems