Articles | Volume 15, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6789-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6789-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Nov 2022
Research article |
| 23 Nov 2022
The DataHawk2 uncrewed aircraft system for atmospheric research
Jonathan Hamilton
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,
University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA
Physical Sciences Laboratory, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, 80305, USA
Gijs Boer
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,
University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA
Physical Sciences Laboratory, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado, 80305, USA
Integrated Remote and In Situ Sensing, University of Colorado
Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, 80303, USA
Abhiram Doddi
Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder,
Boulder, Colorado, 80303, USA
Dale A. Lawrence
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder,
Boulder, Colorado, 80303, USA
Related authors
Ulrike Egerer, John J. Cassano, Matthew D. Shupe, Gijs de Boer, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Holger Siebert, Gina Jozef, Radiance Calmer, and Jonathan Hamilton
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-314, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-314, 2023
Revised manuscript under review for AMT
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes how measurements from a small uncrewed aircraft system can be used to estimate the vertical turbulent heat energy exchange between different layers in the atmosphere. This is particularly important for the atmosphere in the Arctic because here turbulent exchange is often suppressed, but still important to understand how the atmosphere interacts with the sea ice. Three case studies from the MOSAiC field campaign in the Arctic sea ice in 2020 are presented.
Patricia A. Cleary, Gijs de Boer, Joseph P. Hupy, Steven Borenstein, Jonathan Hamilton, Ben Kies, Dale Lawrence, R. Bradley Pierce, Joe Tirado, Aidan Voon, and Timothy Wagner
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2129–2145, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2129-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2129-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A field campaign, WiscoDISCO-21, was conducted at the shoreline of Lake Michigan to better understand the role of marine air in pollutants. Two uncrewed aircraft systems were equipped with sensors for meteorological variables and ozone. A Doppler lidar instrument at a ground station measured horizontal and vertical winds. The overlap of observations from multiple instruments allowed for a unique mapping of the meteorology and pollutants as a marine air mass moved over land.
Gijs de Boer, Steven Borenstein, Radiance Calmer, Christopher Cox, Michael Rhodes, Christopher Choate, Jonathan Hamilton, Jackson Osborn, Dale Lawrence, Brian Argrow, and Janet Intrieri
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 19–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-19-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-19-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This article provides a summary of the collection of atmospheric data over the near-coastal zone upwind of Barbados during the ATOMIC and EUREC4A field campaigns. These data were collected to improve our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the lower atmosphere in the tropical trade-wind regime over the Atlantic Ocean and the influence of that portion of the atmosphere on the development and maintenance of clouds.
Ulrike Egerer, John J. Cassano, Matthew D. Shupe, Gijs de Boer, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Holger Siebert, Gina Jozef, Radiance Calmer, and Jonathan Hamilton
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-314, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-314, 2023
Revised manuscript under review for AMT
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes how measurements from a small uncrewed aircraft system can be used to estimate the vertical turbulent heat energy exchange between different layers in the atmosphere. This is particularly important for the atmosphere in the Arctic because here turbulent exchange is often suppressed, but still important to understand how the atmosphere interacts with the sea ice. Three case studies from the MOSAiC field campaign in the Arctic sea ice in 2020 are presented.
Fan Mei, Mikhail S. Pekour, Darielle Dexheimer, Gijs de Boer, RaeAnn Cook, Jason Tomlinson, Beat Schmid, Lexie A. Goldberger, Rob Newsom, and Jerome D. Fast
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 3423–3438, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3423-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3423-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work focuses on an expanding number of data sets observed using ARM TBS (133 flights) and UAS (seven flights) platforms by the Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility. These data streams provide new perspectives on spatial variability of atmospheric and surface parameters, helping to address critical science questions in Earth system science research, such as the aerosol–cloud interaction in the boundary layer.
Abhiram Doddi, Dale Lawrence, David Fritts, Ling Wang, Thomas Lund, William Brown, Dragan Zajic, and Lakshmi Kantha
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4023–4045, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4023-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4023-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Small-scale turbulent structures are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, yet our understanding of their structure and dynamics is vastly incomplete. IDEAL aimed to improve our understanding of small-scale turbulent flow features in the lower atmosphere. A small, unmanned, fixed-wing aircraft was employed to make targeted observations of atmospheric columns. Measured data were used to guide atmospheric model simulations designed to describe the structure and dynamics of small-scale turbulence.
Gina Jozef, John Cassano, Sandro Dahlke, and Gijs de Boer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4001–4022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4001-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4001-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
During the MOSAiC expedition, meteorological conditions over the lowest 1 km of the atmosphere were sampled with the DataHawk2 uncrewed aircraft system. These data were used to identify the best method for atmospheric boundary layer height detection by comparing visually identified subjective boundary layer height to that identified by several objective automated detection methods. The results show a bulk Richardson number-based approach gives the best estimate of boundary layer height.
Patricia A. Cleary, Gijs de Boer, Joseph P. Hupy, Steven Borenstein, Jonathan Hamilton, Ben Kies, Dale Lawrence, R. Bradley Pierce, Joe Tirado, Aidan Voon, and Timothy Wagner
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2129–2145, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2129-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2129-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A field campaign, WiscoDISCO-21, was conducted at the shoreline of Lake Michigan to better understand the role of marine air in pollutants. Two uncrewed aircraft systems were equipped with sensors for meteorological variables and ozone. A Doppler lidar instrument at a ground station measured horizontal and vertical winds. The overlap of observations from multiple instruments allowed for a unique mapping of the meteorology and pollutants as a marine air mass moved over land.
Gijs de Boer, Steven Borenstein, Radiance Calmer, Christopher Cox, Michael Rhodes, Christopher Choate, Jonathan Hamilton, Jackson Osborn, Dale Lawrence, Brian Argrow, and Janet Intrieri
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 19–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-19-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-19-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This article provides a summary of the collection of atmospheric data over the near-coastal zone upwind of Barbados during the ATOMIC and EUREC4A field campaigns. These data were collected to improve our understanding of the structure and dynamics of the lower atmosphere in the tropical trade-wind regime over the Atlantic Ocean and the influence of that portion of the atmosphere on the development and maintenance of clouds.
Bjorn Stevens, Sandrine Bony, David Farrell, Felix Ament, Alan Blyth, Christopher Fairall, Johannes Karstensen, Patricia K. Quinn, Sabrina Speich, Claudia Acquistapace, Franziska Aemisegger, Anna Lea Albright, Hugo Bellenger, Eberhard Bodenschatz, Kathy-Ann Caesar, Rebecca Chewitt-Lucas, Gijs de Boer, Julien Delanoë, Leif Denby, Florian Ewald, Benjamin Fildier, Marvin Forde, Geet George, Silke Gross, Martin Hagen, Andrea Hausold, Karen J. Heywood, Lutz Hirsch, Marek Jacob, Friedhelm Jansen, Stefan Kinne, Daniel Klocke, Tobias Kölling, Heike Konow, Marie Lothon, Wiebke Mohr, Ann Kristin Naumann, Louise Nuijens, Léa Olivier, Robert Pincus, Mira Pöhlker, Gilles Reverdin, Gregory Roberts, Sabrina Schnitt, Hauke Schulz, A. Pier Siebesma, Claudia Christine Stephan, Peter Sullivan, Ludovic Touzé-Peiffer, Jessica Vial, Raphaela Vogel, Paquita Zuidema, Nicola Alexander, Lyndon Alves, Sophian Arixi, Hamish Asmath, Gholamhossein Bagheri, Katharina Baier, Adriana Bailey, Dariusz Baranowski, Alexandre Baron, Sébastien Barrau, Paul A. Barrett, Frédéric Batier, Andreas Behrendt, Arne Bendinger, Florent Beucher, Sebastien Bigorre, Edmund Blades, Peter Blossey, Olivier Bock, Steven Böing, Pierre Bosser, Denis Bourras, Pascale Bouruet-Aubertot, Keith Bower, Pierre Branellec, Hubert Branger, Michal Brennek, Alan Brewer, Pierre-Etienne Brilouet, Björn Brügmann, Stefan A. Buehler, Elmo Burke, Ralph Burton, Radiance Calmer, Jean-Christophe Canonici, Xavier Carton, Gregory Cato Jr., Jude Andre Charles, Patrick Chazette, Yanxu Chen, Michal T. Chilinski, Thomas Choularton, Patrick Chuang, Shamal Clarke, Hugh Coe, Céline Cornet, Pierre Coutris, Fleur Couvreux, Susanne Crewell, Timothy Cronin, Zhiqiang Cui, Yannis Cuypers, Alton Daley, Gillian M. Damerell, Thibaut Dauhut, Hartwig Deneke, Jean-Philippe Desbios, Steffen Dörner, Sebastian Donner, Vincent Douet, Kyla Drushka, Marina Dütsch, André Ehrlich, Kerry Emanuel, Alexandros Emmanouilidis, Jean-Claude Etienne, Sheryl Etienne-Leblanc, Ghislain Faure, Graham Feingold, Luca Ferrero, Andreas Fix, Cyrille Flamant, Piotr Jacek Flatau, Gregory R. Foltz, Linda Forster, Iulian Furtuna, Alan Gadian, Joseph Galewsky, Martin Gallagher, Peter Gallimore, Cassandra Gaston, Chelle Gentemann, Nicolas Geyskens, Andreas Giez, John Gollop, Isabelle Gouirand, Christophe Gourbeyre, Dörte de Graaf, Geiske E. de Groot, Robert Grosz, Johannes Güttler, Manuel Gutleben, Kashawn Hall, George Harris, Kevin C. Helfer, Dean Henze, Calvert Herbert, Bruna Holanda, Antonio Ibanez-Landeta, Janet Intrieri, Suneil Iyer, Fabrice Julien, Heike Kalesse, Jan Kazil, Alexander Kellman, Abiel T. Kidane, Ulrike Kirchner, Marcus Klingebiel, Mareike Körner, Leslie Ann Kremper, Jan Kretzschmar, Ovid Krüger, Wojciech Kumala, Armin Kurz, Pierre L'Hégaret, Matthieu Labaste, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Arlene Laing, Peter Landschützer, Theresa Lang, Diego Lange, Ingo Lange, Clément Laplace, Gauke Lavik, Rémi Laxenaire, Caroline Le Bihan, Mason Leandro, Nathalie Lefevre, Marius Lena, Donald Lenschow, Qiang Li, Gary Lloyd, Sebastian Los, Niccolò Losi, Oscar Lovell, Christopher Luneau, Przemyslaw Makuch, Szymon Malinowski, Gaston Manta, Eleni Marinou, Nicholas Marsden, Sebastien Masson, Nicolas Maury, Bernhard Mayer, Margarette Mayers-Als, Christophe Mazel, Wayne McGeary, James C. McWilliams, Mario Mech, Melina Mehlmann, Agostino Niyonkuru Meroni, Theresa Mieslinger, Andreas Minikin, Peter Minnett, Gregor Möller, Yanmichel Morfa Avalos, Caroline Muller, Ionela Musat, Anna Napoli, Almuth Neuberger, Christophe Noisel, David Noone, Freja Nordsiek, Jakub L. Nowak, Lothar Oswald, Douglas J. Parker, Carolyn Peck, Renaud Person, Miriam Philippi, Albert Plueddemann, Christopher Pöhlker, Veronika Pörtge, Ulrich Pöschl, Lawrence Pologne, Michał Posyniak, Marc Prange, Estefanía Quiñones Meléndez, Jule Radtke, Karim Ramage, Jens Reimann, Lionel Renault, Klaus Reus, Ashford Reyes, Joachim Ribbe, Maximilian Ringel, Markus Ritschel, Cesar B. Rocha, Nicolas Rochetin, Johannes Röttenbacher, Callum Rollo, Haley Royer, Pauline Sadoulet, Leo Saffin, Sanola Sandiford, Irina Sandu, Michael Schäfer, Vera Schemann, Imke Schirmacher, Oliver Schlenczek, Jerome Schmidt, Marcel Schröder, Alfons Schwarzenboeck, Andrea Sealy, Christoph J. Senff, Ilya Serikov, Samkeyat Shohan, Elizabeth Siddle, Alexander Smirnov, Florian Späth, Branden Spooner, M. Katharina Stolla, Wojciech Szkółka, Simon P. de Szoeke, Stéphane Tarot, Eleni Tetoni, Elizabeth Thompson, Jim Thomson, Lorenzo Tomassini, Julien Totems, Alma Anna Ubele, Leonie Villiger, Jan von Arx, Thomas Wagner, Andi Walther, Ben Webber, Manfred Wendisch, Shanice Whitehall, Anton Wiltshire, Allison A. Wing, Martin Wirth, Jonathan Wiskandt, Kevin Wolf, Ludwig Worbes, Ethan Wright, Volker Wulfmeyer, Shanea Young, Chidong Zhang, Dongxiao Zhang, Florian Ziemen, Tobias Zinner, and Martin Zöger
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 4067–4119, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4067-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4067-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The EUREC4A field campaign, designed to test hypothesized mechanisms by which clouds respond to warming and benchmark next-generation Earth-system models, is presented. EUREC4A comprised roughly 5 weeks of measurements in the downstream winter trades of the North Atlantic – eastward and southeastward of Barbados. It was the first campaign that attempted to characterize the full range of processes and scales influencing trade wind clouds.
Robert Pincus, Chris W. Fairall, Adriana Bailey, Haonan Chen, Patrick Y. Chuang, Gijs de Boer, Graham Feingold, Dean Henze, Quinn T. Kalen, Jan Kazil, Mason Leandro, Ashley Lundry, Ken Moran, Dana A. Naeher, David Noone, Akshar J. Patel, Sergio Pezoa, Ivan PopStefanija, Elizabeth J. Thompson, James Warnecke, and Paquita Zuidema
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 3281–3296, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3281-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3281-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes observations taken from a research aircraft during a field experiment in the western Atlantic Ocean during January and February 2020. The plane made 11 flights, most 8-9 h long, and measured the properties of the atmosphere and ocean with a combination of direct measurements, sensors falling from the plane to profile the atmosphere and ocean, and remote sensing measurements of clouds and the ocean surface.
David Brus, Jani Gustafsson, Osku Kemppinen, Gijs de Boer, and Anne Hirsikko
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2909–2922, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2909-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2909-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This publication summarizes measurements collected and datasets generated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Kansas State University teams during the LAPSE-RATE campaign that took place in San Luis Valley, Colorado, during summer 2018. We provide an overview of the rotorcraft and offer insights into the payloads that were used. We describe the teams’ scientific goals, flight strategies, and the datasets, including a description of the measurement validation techniques applied.
Gijs de Boer, Cory Dixon, Steven Borenstein, Dale A. Lawrence, Jack Elston, Daniel Hesselius, Maciej Stachura, Roger Laurence III, Sara Swenson, Christopher M. Choate, Abhiram Doddi, Aiden Sesnic, Katherine Glasheen, Zakariya Laouar, Flora Quinby, Eric Frew, and Brian M. Argrow
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2515–2528, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2515-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2515-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes data collected by uncrewed aircraft operated by the University of Colorado Boulder and Black Swift Technologies during the Lower Atmospheric Profiling Studies at Elevation – A Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE) field campaign. This effort was conducted in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in July 2018 and included intensive observing of the atmospheric boundary layer. This paper describes data collected by four aircraft operated by these entities.
Patricia K. Quinn, Elizabeth J. Thompson, Derek J. Coffman, Sunil Baidar, Ludovic Bariteau, Timothy S. Bates, Sebastien Bigorre, Alan Brewer, Gijs de Boer, Simon P. de Szoeke, Kyla Drushka, Gregory R. Foltz, Janet Intrieri, Suneil Iyer, Chris W. Fairall, Cassandra J. Gaston, Friedhelm Jansen, James E. Johnson, Ovid O. Krüger, Richard D. Marchbanks, Kenneth P. Moran, David Noone, Sergio Pezoa, Robert Pincus, Albert J. Plueddemann, Mira L. Pöhlker, Ulrich Pöschl, Estefania Quinones Melendez, Haley M. Royer, Malgorzata Szczodrak, Jim Thomson, Lucia M. Upchurch, Chidong Zhang, Dongxiao Zhang, and Paquita Zuidema
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 1759–1790, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1759-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1759-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
ATOMIC took place in the northwestern tropical Atlantic during January and February of 2020 to gather information on shallow atmospheric convection, the effects of aerosols and clouds on the ocean surface energy budget, and mesoscale oceanic processes. Measurements made from the NOAA RV Ronald H. Brown and assets it deployed (instrumented mooring and uncrewed seagoing vehicles) are described herein to advance widespread use of the data by the ATOMIC and broader research communities.
Jessie M. Creamean, Gijs de Boer, Hagen Telg, Fan Mei, Darielle Dexheimer, Matthew D. Shupe, Amy Solomon, and Allison McComiskey
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 1737–1757, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1737-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-1737-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Arctic clouds play a role in modulating sea ice extent. Importantly, aerosols facilitate cloud formation, and thus it is crucial to understand the interactions between aerosols and clouds. Vertical measurements of aerosols and clouds are needed to tackle this issue. We present results from balloon-borne measurements of aerosols and clouds over the course of 2 years in northern Alaska. These data shed light onto the vertical distributions of aerosols relative to clouds spanning multiple seasons.
Gijs de Boer, Sean Waugh, Alexander Erwin, Steven Borenstein, Cory Dixon, Wafa'a Shanti, Adam Houston, and Brian Argrow
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 155–169, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-155-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-155-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides an overview of measurements collected in south-central Colorado (USA) during the 2018 LAPSE-RATE campaign. The measurements described in this article were collected by mobile surface vehicles, including cars, trucks, and vans, and include measurements of thermodynamic quantities (e.g., temperature, humidity, pressure) and winds. These measurements can be used to study the evolution of the atmospheric boundary layer at a high-elevation site under a variety of conditions.
David Brus, Jani Gustafsson, Ville Vakkari, Osku Kemppinen, Gijs de Boer, and Anne Hirsikko
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 517–533, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-517-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-517-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper summarizes Finnish Meteorological Institute and Kansas State University unmanned aerial vehicle measurements during the summer 2018 Lower Atmospheric Process Studies at Elevation – a Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE) campaign in the San Luis Valley, providing an overview of the rotorcraft deployed, payloads, scientific goals and flight strategies and presenting observations of atmospheric thermodynamics and aerosol and gas parameters in the vertical column.
Gijs de Boer, Adam Houston, Jamey Jacob, Phillip B. Chilson, Suzanne W. Smith, Brian Argrow, Dale Lawrence, Jack Elston, David Brus, Osku Kemppinen, Petra Klein, Julie K. Lundquist, Sean Waugh, Sean C. C. Bailey, Amy Frazier, Michael P. Sama, Christopher Crick, David Schmale III, James Pinto, Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little, Victoria Natalie, and Anders Jensen
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 12, 3357–3366, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3357-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-3357-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides an overview of the Lower Atmospheric Profiling Studies at Elevation – a Remotely-piloted Aircraft Team Experiment (LAPSE-RATE) field campaign, held from 14 to 20 July 2018. This field campaign spanned a 1-week deployment to Colorado's San Luis Valley, involving over 100 students, scientists, engineers, pilots, and outreach coordinators. This overview paper provides insight into the campaign for a special issue focused on the datasets collected during LAPSE-RATE.
Gijs de Boer, Darielle Dexheimer, Fan Mei, John Hubbe, Casey Longbottom, Peter J. Carroll, Monty Apple, Lexie Goldberger, David Oaks, Justin Lapierre, Michael Crume, Nathan Bernard, Matthew D. Shupe, Amy Solomon, Janet Intrieri, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Donna J. Holdridge, Michael Hubbell, Mark D. Ivey, and Beat Schmid
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 1349–1362, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1349-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1349-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides a summary of observations collected at Oliktok Point, Alaska, as part of the Profiling at Oliktok Point to Enhance YOPP Experiments (POPEYE) campaign. The Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) is a multi-year concentrated effort to improve forecasting capabilities at high latitudes across a variety of timescales. POPEYE observations include atmospheric data collected using unmanned aircraft, tethered balloons, and radiosondes, made in parallel with routine measurements at the site.
Maximilian Maahn, Fabian Hoffmann, Matthew D. Shupe, Gijs de Boer, Sergey Y. Matrosov, and Edward P. Luke
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 3151–3171, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-3151-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-3151-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Cloud radars are unique instruments for observing cloud processes, but uncertainties in radar calibration have frequently limited data quality. Here, we present three novel methods for calibrating vertically pointing cloud radars. These calibration methods are based on microphysical processes of liquid clouds, such as the transition of cloud droplets to drizzle drops. We successfully apply the methods to cloud radar data from the North Slope of Alaska (NSA) and Oliktok Point (OLI) ARM sites.
Jessie M. Creamean, Rachel M. Kirpes, Kerri A. Pratt, Nicholas J. Spada, Maximilian Maahn, Gijs de Boer, Russell C. Schnell, and Swarup China
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 18023–18042, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-18023-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-18023-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Warm-temperature ice nucleating particles (INPs) were observed during a springtime transition period of the melting of frozen surfaces in Northern Alaska. Such INPs were likely biological and from marine and terrestrial (tundra) sources. Influxes of these efficient INPs may have important implications for Arctic cloud ice formation and, consequently, the surface energy budget.
Amy Solomon, Gijs de Boer, Jessie M. Creamean, Allison McComiskey, Matthew D. Shupe, Maximilian Maahn, and Christopher Cox
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 17047–17059, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17047-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-17047-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The results of this study indicate that perturbations in ice nucleating particles (INPs) dominate over cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) perturbations in Arctic mixed-phase stratocumulus; i.e., an equivalent fractional decrease in CCN and INPs results in an increase in the cloud-top longwave cooling rate, even though the droplet effective radius increases and the cloud emissivity decreases. In addition, cloud-processing causes layering of aerosols with increased concentrations of CCN at cloud top.
Matthew S. Norgren, Gijs de Boer, and Matthew D. Shupe
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 13345–13361, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13345-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-13345-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Arctic mixed-phase clouds are a critical component of the Arctic climate system because of their ability to influence the surface radiation budget. The radiative impact of an individual cloud is closely linked to the ability of the cloud to convert liquid drops to ice. In this paper, we show through an observational record that clouds present in polluted atmospheric conditions have lower amounts of ice than similar clouds found in clean conditions.
Christopher R. Williams, Maximilian Maahn, Joseph C. Hardin, and Gijs de Boer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 4963–4980, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-4963-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-4963-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents three signal-processing methods to improve estimates derived from a vertically pointing 35 GHz cloud radar deployed at Oliktok Point, Alaska. The first method removes ground clutter from the Doppler velocity spectra. The second method estimates multiple peaks and high-order moments from the improved spectra. The third method removes high-frequency variability in high-order moments by shifting original 2 s spectra to a common reference before averaging over a 15 s interval.
Jessie M. Creamean, Maximilian Maahn, Gijs de Boer, Allison McComiskey, Arthur J. Sedlacek, and Yan Feng
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 18, 555–570, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-555-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-555-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We report on airborne observations from the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program's Fifth Airborne Carbon Measurements (ACME-V) campaign along the North Slope of Alaska during the summer of 2015. We show how local oil extraction activities, 2015's central Alaskan wildfires, and, to a lesser extent, long-range transport introduce aerosols and trace gases higher in concentration than previously reported in Arctic haze measurements to the North Slope.
Maximilian Maahn, Gijs de Boer, Jessie M. Creamean, Graham Feingold, Greg M. McFarquhar, Wei Wu, and Fan Mei
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 14709–14726, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-14709-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Liquid-containing clouds are a key component of the Arctic climate system and their radiative properties depend strongly on cloud drop sizes. Here, we investigate how cloud drop sizes are modified in the presence of local emissions from industrial facilities at the North Slope of Alaska using aircraft in situ observations. We show that near local anthropogenic sources, the concentrations of black carbon and condensation nuclei are enhanced and cloud drop sizes are reduced.
Hubert Luce, Lakshmi Kantha, Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, Dale Lawrence, Masanori Yabuki, Toshitaka Tsuda, and Tyler Mixa
Ann. Geophys., 35, 423–441, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-423-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-423-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Results of comparisons between data collected from a VHF Doppler radar and small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are presented. The UAVs, equipped with meteorological sensors, flew nearby the radar up to an altitude of ~ 4.0 km. Both instruments detected the same clear-air refractive index gradients at a vertical scale of ~ 20 m when the vertical stratification was strong. A VHF radar can thus provide a faithful image of the vertical stratification of the atmosphere down to decimeter scales.
Danny E. Scipión, Dale A. Lawrence, Marco A. Milla, Ronald F. Woodman, Diego A. Lume, and Ben B. Balsley
Ann. Geophys., 34, 767–780, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-767-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-767-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The paper presents simultaneous observations made with a radar (SOUSY) and an unmanned aerial system (DataHawk) with the propose of studying the lower troposphere with high resolution. Through the comparison of both measurements, it was possible to compute the radar calibration constant, which will help to obtain calibrated measurements of turbulent parameters of the atmosphere.
Gijs de Boer, Scott Palo, Brian Argrow, Gabriel LoDolce, James Mack, Ru-Shan Gao, Hagen Telg, Cameron Trussel, Joshua Fromm, Charles N. Long, Geoff Bland, James Maslanik, Beat Schmid, and Terry Hock
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 1845–1857, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides an overview of a recently developed unmanned aerial system (UAS) for study of the lower atmosphere. This platform, the University of Colorado Pilatus UAS, is capable of providing measurements of atmospheric thermodynamics (temperature, pressure, humidity), atmospheric aerosol size distributions, and broadband radiation. These quantities are critical for understanding a variety of atmospheric processes relevant for characterization of the surface energy budget.
J. M. Intrieri, G. de Boer, M. D. Shupe, J. R. Spackman, J. Wang, P. J. Neiman, G. A. Wick, T. F. Hock, and R. E. Hood
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 7, 3917–3926, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3917-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-3917-2014, 2014
Short summary
Short summary
In winter 2011, the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was deployed over the Arctic to evaluate a UAS dropsonde system at high latitudes. Dropsondes deployed from the Global Hawk successfully obtained high-resolution profiles of temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed and direction information between the stratosphere and surface. During the 25-hour polar flight, the Global Hawk released 35 sondes between the North Slope of Alaska and 85° N latitude.
C. Wesslén, M. Tjernström, D. H. Bromwich, G. de Boer, A. M. L. Ekman, L.-S. Bai, and S.-H. Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 2605–2624, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2605-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-2605-2014, 2014
G. de Boer, M. D. Shupe, P. M. Caldwell, S. E. Bauer, O. Persson, J. S. Boyle, M. Kelley, S. A. Klein, and M. Tjernström
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 14, 427–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-427-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-427-2014, 2014
G. de Boer, T. Hashino, G. J. Tripoli, and E. W. Eloranta
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 1733–1749, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1733-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-1733-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Others (Wind, Precipitation, Temperature, etc.) | Technique: In Situ Measurement | Topic: Instruments and Platforms
Toward quantifying turbulent vertical airflow and sensible heat flux in tall forest canopies using fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing
A fiber-optic distributed temperature sensor for continuous in situ profiling up to 2 km beneath constant-altitude scientific balloons
New Absolute Cavity Pyrgeometer equation by application of Kirchhoff's law and adding a convection term
The measurement of mean wind, variances, and covariances from an instrumented mobile car in a rural environment
ICE-CAMERA: a flatbed scanner to study inland Antarctic polar precipitation
A new airborne broadband radiometer system and an efficient method to correct thermal offsets
3D trajectories and velocities of rainfall drops in a multifractal turbulent wind field
Towards vertical wind and turbulent flux estimation with multicopter uncrewed aircraft systems
Instabilities, Dynamics, and Energetics accompanying Atmospheric Layering (IDEAL): high-resolution in situ observations and modeling in and above the nocturnal boundary layer
Infrasound measurement system for real-time in situ tornado measurements
Quantifying the coastal urban surface layer structure using distributed temperature sensing in Helsinki, Finland
On the quality of RS41 radiosonde descent data
Idealized simulation study of the relationship of disdrometer sampling statistics with the precision of precipitation rate measurement
Use of thermal signal for the investigation of near-surface turbulence
Drone measurements of surface-based winter temperature inversions in the High Arctic at Eureka
Ground mobile observation system for measuring multisurface microwave emissivity
A differential emissivity imaging technique for measuring hydrometeor mass and type
Effect of snow-covered ground albedo on the accuracy of air temperature measurements
Distributed wind measurements with multiple quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles in the atmospheric boundary layer
The INFRA-EAR: a low-cost mobile multidisciplinary measurement platform for monitoring geophysical parameters
A dedicated robust instrument for water vapor generation at low humidity for use with a laser water isotope analyzer in cold and dry polar regions
Arctic observations and numerical simulations of surface wind effects on Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera measurements
The development of the “Storm Tracker” and its applications for atmospheric high-resolution upper-air observations
Use of automatic radiosonde launchers to measure temperature and humidity profiles from the GRUAN perspective
Using global reanalysis data to quantify and correct airflow distortion bias in shipborne wind speed measurements
The CopterSonde: an insight into the development of a smart unmanned aircraft system for atmospheric boundary layer research
Microphysical properties and fall speed measurements of snow ice crystals using the Dual Ice Crystal Imager (D-ICI)
The Disdrometer Verification Network (DiVeN): a UK network of laser precipitation instruments
The new BELUGA setup for collocated turbulence and radiation measurements using a tethered balloon: first applications in the cloudy Arctic boundary layer
Identification of platform exhaust on the RV Investigator
Evaluation of Windsond S1H2 performance in Kumasi during the 2016 DACCIWA field campaign
Recovery of the three-dimensional wind and sonic temperature data from a physically deformed sonic anemometer
Considerations for temperature sensor placement on rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems
New calibration procedures for airborne turbulence measurements and accuracy of the methane fluxes during the AirMeth campaigns
Is it feasible to estimate radiosonde biases from interlaced measurements?
Vertical wind velocity measurements using a five-hole probe with remotely piloted aircraft to study aerosol–cloud interactions
Calibration and evaluation of CCD spectroradiometers for ground-based and airborne measurements of spectral actinic flux densities
Revising shortwave and longwave radiation archives in view of possible revisions of the WSG and WISG reference scales: methods and implications
Overview of and first observations from the TILDAE High-Altitude Balloon Mission
High-resolution urban observation network for user-specific meteorological information service in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, South Korea
Pyranometer offsets triggered by ambient meteorology: insights from laboratory and field experiments
Identification of tower-wake distortions using sonic anemometer and lidar measurements
A Bayesian model to correct underestimated 3-D wind speeds from sonic anemometers increases turbulent components of the surface energy balance
Proof of concept for turbulence measurements with the RPAS SUMO during the BLLAST campaign
Turbulence fluxes and variances measured with a sonic anemometer mounted on a tethered balloon
Estimates of Mode-S EHS aircraft-derived wind observation errors using triple collocation
Characterisation and improvement of j(O1D) filter radiometers
Exploring the potential of the RPA system SUMO for multipurpose boundary-layer missions during the BLLAST campaign
Return glider radiosonde for in situ upper-air research measurements
The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research
Mohammad Abdoli, Karl Lapo, Johann Schneider, Johannes Olesch, and Christoph K. Thomas
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 809–824, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-809-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-809-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we compute the distributed sensible heat flux using a distributed temperature sensing technique, whose magnitude, sign, and temporal dynamics compare reasonably well to estimates from classical eddy covariance measurements from sonic anemometry. Despite the remaining uncertainty in computed fluxes, the results demonstrate the potential of the novel method to compute spatially resolving sensible heat flux measurement and encourage further research.
J. Douglas Goetz, Lars E. Kalnajs, Terry Deshler, Sean M. Davis, Martina Bramberger, and M. Joan Alexander
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 791–807, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-791-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-791-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
An instrument for in situ continuous 2 km vertical profiles of temperature below high-altitude balloons was developed for high-temporal-resolution measurements within the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere using fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing. The mechanical, electrical, and temperature calibration systems were validated from a short mid-latitude constant-altitude balloon flight within the lower stratosphere. The instrument observed small-scale and inertial gravity waves.
Bruce W. Forgan, Julian Gröbner, and Ibrahim Reda
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 727–743, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-727-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-727-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper investigates the Absolute Cavity Pyrgeometer (ACP) and its use in measuring atmospheric terrestrial irradiances traceable to the standard system of units (SI). This work fits into the objective of the Expert Team on Radiation References, established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to develop and validate instrumentation that can be used as reference instruments for terrestrial radiation measurements.
Stefan J. Miller and Mark Gordon
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 6563–6584, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6563-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6563-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This research investigates the measurement of atmospheric turbulence using a low-cost instrumented car that travels at near-highway speeds and is impacted by upwind obstructions and other on-road traffic. We show that our car design can successfully measure the mean flow and atmospheric turbulence near the surface. We outline a technique to isolate and remove the effects of sporadic passing traffic from car-measured velocity variances and discuss potential measurement uncertainties.
Massimo Del Guasta
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 6521–6544, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6521-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-6521-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Any instrument on the Antarctic plateau must cope with a harsh environment. Concordia station is a special place for testing new instruments. With low temperatures and weak winds, precipitation can be studied by simply collecting it on horizontal surfaces. This is typically done manually. ICE-CAMERA is intended as an automatic alternative. The combined construction of rugged equipment for taking photographs of particles and the adoption of machine learning techniques have served this purpose.
André Ehrlich, Martin Zöger, Andreas Giez, Vladyslav Nenakhov, Christian Mallaun, Rolf Maser, Timo Röschenthaler, Anna E. Luebke, Kevin Wolf, Bjorn Stevens, and Manfred Wendisch
Atmos. Meas. Tech. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-259, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2022-259, 2022
Revised manuscript accepted for AMT
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of the broadband radiative energy budget from aircraft are needed to study the effect of clouds, aerosol particles, and surface conditions on the Earth's energy budget. However, the moving aircraft introduces challenges to the instrument performance and post processing of the data. This study introduces a new radiometer package, outlines an efficient method to correct thermal offsets, and provides exemplary measurements of solar and thermal-infrared irradiance.
Auguste Gires, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia, and Daniel Schertzer
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5861–5875, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5861-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5861-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Weather radars measure rainfall in altitude whereas hydro-meteorologists are mainly interested in rainfall at ground level. During their fall, drops are advected by the wind which affects the location of the measured field. Governing equation linking acceleration, gravity, buoyancy, and drag force is updated to account for oblateness of drops. Then multifractal wind is used as input to explore velocities and trajectories of drops. Finally consequence on radar rainfall estimation is discussed.
Norman Wildmann and Tamino Wetz
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 5465–5477, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5465-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-5465-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Multicopter uncrewed aerial systems (UAS, also known as drones) are very easy to use systems for collecting data in the lowest part of the atmosphere. Wind and turbulence are parameters that are particularly important for understanding the dynamics in the atmosphere. Only with three-dimensional measurements of the wind can a full understanding can be achieved. In this study, we show how even the vertical wind through the UAS can be measured with good accuracy.
Abhiram Doddi, Dale Lawrence, David Fritts, Ling Wang, Thomas Lund, William Brown, Dragan Zajic, and Lakshmi Kantha
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4023–4045, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4023-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4023-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Small-scale turbulent structures are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, yet our understanding of their structure and dynamics is vastly incomplete. IDEAL aimed to improve our understanding of small-scale turbulent flow features in the lower atmosphere. A small, unmanned, fixed-wing aircraft was employed to make targeted observations of atmospheric columns. Measured data were used to guide atmospheric model simulations designed to describe the structure and dynamics of small-scale turbulence.
Brandon C. White, Brian R. Elbing, and Imraan A. Faruque
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2923–2938, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2923-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2923-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Tornadic storms have been hypothesized to emit sound at frequencies below human hearing which animals and certain microphones can detect. This study covers the design, fabrication, and deployment of a specialized microphone that can be carried by first responders and storm chasers. The study also presents real-time processing methods, analyzes several recorded severe weather events including a tornado, and introduces a real-time web interface to allow for live monitoring of the mobile sensor.
Sasu Karttunen, Ewan O'Connor, Olli Peltola, and Leena Järvi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 2417–2432, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2417-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-2417-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
To study the complex structure of the lowest tens of metres of atmosphere in urban areas, measurement methods with great spatial and temporal coverage are needed. In our study, we analyse measurements with a promising and relatively new method, distributed temperature sensing, capable of providing detailed information on the near-surface atmosphere. We present multiple ways to utilise these kinds of measurements, as well as important considerations for planning new studies using the method.
Bruce Ingleby, Martin Motl, Graeme Marlton, David Edwards, Michael Sommer, Christoph von Rohden, Holger Vömel, and Hannu Jauhiainen
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 165–183, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-165-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-165-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Radiosonde descent data could provide extra profiles of the atmosphere for forecasting and other uses. Descent data from Vaisala RS41 radiosondes have been compared with the ascent profiles and with ECMWF short-range forecasts. The agreement is mostly good. The descent rate is very variable and high descent rates cause temperature biases, especially at upper levels. Ascent winds are affected by pendulum motion; on average, the descent winds are smoother.
Karlie N. Rees and Timothy J. Garrett
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7681–7691, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7681-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7681-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Monte Carlo simulations are used to establish baseline precipitation measurement uncertainties according to World Meteorological Organization standards. Measurement accuracy depends on instrument sampling area, time interval, and precipitation rate. Simulations are compared with field measurements taken by an emerging hotplate precipitation sensor. We find that the current collection area is sufficient for light rain, but a larger collection area is required to detect moderate to heavy rain.
Matthias Zeeman
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7475–7493, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7475-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7475-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding turbulence near the surface is important for many applications. In this work, methods for observing and analysing temperature structures in a near-surface volume were explored. Experiments were conducted to identify modes of organised motion. These help explain interactions between the vegetation and the atmosphere that are not currently well understood. Techniques used include fibre-optic sensing, thermal infrared imaging, signal decomposition, and machine learning.
Alexey B. Tikhomirov, Glen Lesins, and James R. Drummond
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7123–7145, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7123-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7123-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Two commercial quadcopters (DJI Matrice 100 and M210 RTK) were equipped with an air temperature measurement system. They were flown at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Eureka, Nunavut, Canada, at 80° N latitude to study surface-based temperature inversion during February–March field campaigns in 2017 and 2020. It was demonstrated that the drones can be effectively used in the High Arctic to measure vertical temperature profiles up to 75 m off the ground.
Wenying He, Hongbin Chen, Yuejian Xuan, Jun Li, Minzheng Duan, and Weidong Nan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 7069–7078, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7069-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-7069-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Large microwave surface emissivities (ε) cause difficulties in widely using satellite microwave data over land. Usually, ground-based radiometers are fixed to a scan field to obtain the temporal evolution of ε over a single land-cover area. To obtain the long-term temporal evolution of ε over different land-cover surfaces simultaneously, we developed a ground mobile observation system to enhance in situ ε observations and presented some preliminary results.
Dhiraj K. Singh, Spencer Donovan, Eric R. Pardyjak, and Timothy J. Garrett
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6973–6990, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6973-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6973-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes a new instrument for quantifying the physical characteristics of hydrometeors such as snow and rain. The device can measure the mass, size, density and type of individual hydrometeors as well as their bulk properties. The instrument is called the Differential Emissivity Imaging Disdrometer (DEID) and is composed of a thermal camera and hotplate. The DEID measures hydrometeors at sampling frequencies up to 1 Hz with masses and effective diameters greater than 1 µg and 200 µm.
Chiara Musacchio, Graziano Coppa, Gaber Begeš, Christina Hofstätter-Mohler, Laura Massano, Guido Nigrelli, Francesca Sanna, and Andrea Merlone
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 6195–6212, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6195-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-6195-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In the context of the overhaul of the WMO/CIMO guide (no. 8) on instruments and methods of observation, we performed an experiment to quantify uncertainties in air temperature measurements due to reflected solar radiation from a snow-covered surface. Coupled sensors with different radiation shields were put under different ground conditions (grass vs. snow) for a whole winter. Results show that different shields may reduce the influence of backward radiation, which can produce errors up to 3 °C.
Tamino Wetz, Norman Wildmann, and Frank Beyrich
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 3795–3814, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3795-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3795-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
A fleet of quadrotors is presented as a system to measure the spatial distribution of atmospheric boundary layer flow. The big advantage of this approach is that multiple and flexible measurement points in space can be sampled synchronously. The algorithm to calculate the horizontal wind is based on the principle of aerodynamic drag and the related quadrotor dynamics. The validation reveals that an average accuracy of < 0.3 m s−1 for the wind speed and < 8° for the wind direction was achieved.
Olivier F. C. den Ouden, Jelle D. Assink, Cornelis D. Oudshoorn, Dominique Filippi, and Läslo G. Evers
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 3301–3317, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3301-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-3301-2021, 2021
Christophe Leroy-Dos Santos, Mathieu Casado, Frédéric Prié, Olivier Jossoud, Erik Kerstel, Morgane Farradèche, Samir Kassi, Elise Fourré, and Amaëlle Landais
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 2907–2918, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2907-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-2907-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We developed an instrument that can generate water vapor at low humidity at a very stable level. This instrument was conceived to calibrate water vapor isotopic records obtained in very dry places such as central Antarctica. Here, we provide details on the instrument as well as results obtained for correcting water isotopic records for diurnal variability during a long field season at the Concordia station in East Antarctica.
Kyle E. Fitch, Chaoxun Hang, Ahmad Talaei, and Timothy J. Garrett
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 14, 1127–1142, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1127-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-14-1127-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Snow measurements are very sensitive to wind. Here, we compare airflow and snowfall simulations to Arctic observations for a Multi-Angle Snowflake Camera to show that measurements of fall speed, orientation, and size are accurate only with a double wind fence and winds below 5 m s−1. In this case, snowflakes tend to fall with a nearly horizontal orientation; the largest flakes are as much as 5 times more likely to be observed. Adjustments are needed for snow falling in naturally turbulent air.
Wei-Chun Hwang, Po-Hsiung Lin, and Hungjui Yu
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 5395–5406, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5395-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-5395-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We have developed a small, light-weight (radiosonde of 20 g with battery), low-cost, and easy-to-use upper-air radiosonde system: the Storm Tracker. With the ability to receive multiple radiosondes simultaneously, the system enables high temporal and spatial resolution atmospheric observations. In the 2018 field campaign, the accuracy of the Storm tracker was tested using co-launched data with Vaisala RS41-SGP radiosondes, and the measurements show an overall good agreement.
Fabio Madonna, Rigel Kivi, Jean-Charles Dupont, Bruce Ingleby, Masatomo Fujiwara, Gonzague Romanens, Miguel Hernandez, Xavier Calbet, Marco Rosoldi, Aldo Giunta, Tomi Karppinen, Masami Iwabuchi, Shunsuke Hoshino, Christoph von Rohden, and Peter William Thorne
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3621–3649, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3621-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3621-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Radiosondes are one of the primary sources of upper-air data for weather and climate monitoring. In the last two decades, technological progress made available automated radiosonde launchers (ARLs), which are able to replace measurements typically performed manually. This work presents a comparative analysis of the technical performance of the ARLs currently available on the market and contribute to define a strategy to achieve the full traceability of the ARL products.
Sebastian Landwehr, Iris Thurnherr, Nicolas Cassar, Martin Gysel-Beer, and Julia Schmale
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 3487–3506, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3487-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-3487-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Shipborne wind speed measurements are relevant for field studies of air–sea interaction processes. Distortion of the airflow by the ship’s structure can, however, lead to errors. We estimate the flow distortion bias by comparing the observations to ERA-5 reanalysis data. The underlying assumptions are that the bias depends only on the relative orientation of the ship to the wind direction and that the ERA-5 wind speeds are (on average) representative of the true wind speed.
Antonio R. Segales, Brian R. Greene, Tyler M. Bell, William Doyle, Joshua J. Martin, Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little, and Phillip B. Chilson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 2833–2848, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2833-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2833-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The CopterSonde is an unmanned aircraft system designed with the purpose of sampling thermodynamic and kinematic parameters of the lower Earth's atmosphere, with a focus on vertical profiles in the planetary boundary layer. By incorporating adaptive sampling techniques and optimizing the sensor placement, our study shows that CopterSonde can provide similar information as a radiosonde, but with more control of its sampling location at much higher temporal and spatial resolution.
Thomas Kuhn and Sandra Vázquez-Martín
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 1273–1285, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1273-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1273-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Directly measured shape and fall speed are two important parameters needed for models and remote sensing. This can be done by the new Dual Ice Crystal Imager (D-ICI) instrument, which takes two high-resolution pictures of falling snow crystals from two different angles. Fall speed is measured by doubly exposing the side-view picture. Size and shape are determined from the second picture providing the top view of the snow crystal. D-ICI has been tested on the ground in Kiruna, northern Sweden.
Ben S. Pickering, Ryan R. Neely III, and Dawn Harrison
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 5845–5861, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5845-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-5845-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
A new network of precipitation instruments has been established for the UK. The instruments are capable of detecting the fall velocity and diameter of each particle that falls through a laser beam. The particle characteristics are derived from the duration and amount of decrease in beam brightness as perceived by a receiving diode. A total of 14 instruments make up the network and all instruments upload 60 s frequency data in near-real time to a publicly available website with plots.
Ulrike Egerer, Matthias Gottschalk, Holger Siebert, André Ehrlich, and Manfred Wendisch
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 4019–4038, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4019-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-4019-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we introduce the new tethered balloon system BELUGA, which includes different modular instrument packages for measuring turbulence and radiation in the atmospheric boundary layer. BELUGA was deployed in an Arctic field campaign in 2017, providing details of boundary layer processes in combination with low-level clouds. Those processes are still not fully understood and in situ measurements in the Arctic improve our understanding of the Arctic response in terms of global warming.
Ruhi S. Humphries, Ian M. McRobert, Will A. Ponsonby, Jason P. Ward, Melita D. Keywood, Zoe M. Loh, Paul B. Krummel, and James Harnwell
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 3019–3038, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-3019-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-3019-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Undertaking atmospheric observations from ships provides important data in regions where measurements are impossible by other means. However, making measurements so close to a diesel exhaust plume is difficult. In this paper, we describe an algorithm that utilises ongoing measurements of aerosol number concentrations, black carbon mass concentrations, and mixing ratios of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to accurately distinguish between exhaust and background data periods.
Geoffrey Elie Quentin Bessardon, Kwabena Fosu-Amankwah, Anders Petersson, and Barbara Jane Brooks
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 12, 1311–1324, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1311-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-12-1311-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents the first performance assessment during a field campaign of a new reusable radiosonde: the Windsond S1H2. The reuse feature of the S1H2 requires evaluation of the data alteration due to sonde reuse in addition to performance and reproducibility assessments. A comparison with the Vaisala RS41-SG, a well-proven system, shows the potential of the S1H2, with no major performance degradation arising from S1H2 sonde reuse but shows the need for improving the S1H2 GPS system.
Xinhua Zhou, Qinghua Yang, Xiaojie Zhen, Yubin Li, Guanghua Hao, Hui Shen, Tian Gao, Yirong Sun, and Ning Zheng
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 5981–6002, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-5981-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-5981-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The three-dimensional wind and sonic temperature data from a physically deformed sonic anemometer was successfully recovered by developing equations, algorithms, and related software. Using two sets of geometry data from production calibration and return re-calibration, this algorithm can recover wind with/without transducer shadow correction and sonic temperature with crosswind correction, and then obtain fluxes at quality as expected. This study is applicable as a reference for related topics.
Brian R. Greene, Antonio R. Segales, Sean Waugh, Simon Duthoit, and Phillip B. Chilson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 5519–5530, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-5519-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-5519-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
With the recent commercial availability of rotary-wing unmanned aircraft systems (rwUAS), their ability to collect observations in the lower atmosphere is quickly being realized. However, integrating sensors with an rwUAS can introduce errors if not sited properly. This study discusses an objective method of determining some of these error sources in temperature, including improper airflow and rotary motor heating. Errors can be mitigated by mounting thermistors under propellers near the tips.
Jörg Hartmann, Martin Gehrmann, Katrin Kohnert, Stefan Metzger, and Torsten Sachs
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 4567–4581, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-4567-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-4567-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present new in-flight calibration procedures for airborne turbulence measurements that exploit suitable regular flight legs without the need for dedicated calibration patterns. Furthermore we estimate the accuracy of the airborne wind measurement and of the turbulent fluxes of the traces gases methane and carbon dioxide.
Stefanie Kremser, Jordis S. Tradowsky, Henning W. Rust, and Greg E. Bodeker
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 3021–3029, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3021-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-3021-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the feasibility of quantifying the difference in biases of two instrument types (i.e. radiosondes) by flying the old and new instruments on alternating days, so-called interlacing, to statistically derive the systematic biases between the instruments. While it is in principle possible to estimate the difference between two instrument biases from interlaced measurements, the number of required interlaced flights is very large for reasonable autocorrelation coefficient values.
Radiance Calmer, Gregory C. Roberts, Jana Preissler, Kevin J. Sanchez, Solène Derrien, and Colin O'Dowd
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 2583–2599, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2583-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2583-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), commonly called UAVs, are used in atmospheric science for in situ measurements. The presented work shows wind measurements from a five-hole probe on an RPAS. Comparisons with other instruments (sonic anemometer and cloud radar) show good agreement, validating the RPAS measurements. In situ vertical wind measurements at cloud base are highlighted because they are a major parameter needed for simulating aerosol–cloud interactions, though rarely collected.
Birger Bohn and Insa Lohse
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3151–3174, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3151-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3151-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
CCD spectroradiometers are widely used for measurements of atmospheric photolysis frequencies. Their fast response makes them suitable for airborne applications despite the well-known stray-light problem. In this work we describe simple and reliable procedures to minimize the stray-light influence on calibrations and field measurements. Comparisons with a reference instrument confirm high accuracies and low detection limits of important photolysis frequencies.
Stephan Nyeki, Stefan Wacker, Julian Gröbner, Wolfgang Finsterle, and Martin Wild
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 3057–3071, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3057-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-3057-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
A large number of radiometers used to measure solar and terrestrial broadband radiation are traceable to World Standard Groups at PMOD/WRC in Davos, Switzerland. A small correction of each group may be required in the future, and this study examines the methods and implications of this on data sets collected at four remote baseline stations since the 1990s. The goal is to develop a better estimate of the solar and terrestrial radiation budget at the Earth's surface.
Bennett A. Maruca, Raffaele Marino, David Sundkvist, Niharika H. Godbole, Stephane Constantin, Vincenzo Carbone, and Herb Zimmerman
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 1595–1607, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1595-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1595-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The Turbulence and Intermittency Long-Duration Atmospheric Experiment (TILDAE) was developed to characterize small-scale fluctuations in the troposphere and stratosphere. The mission's key instrument, a customized sonic anemometer, made high-speed calibrated measurements of the 3-D wind velocity and air temperature. TILDAE was incorporated as an "add-on" experiment to the payload of a NASA long-duration balloon mission that launched in January 2016 from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Moon-Soo Park, Sung-Hwa Park, Jung-Hoon Chae, Min-Hyeok Choi, Yunyoung Song, Minsoo Kang, and Joon-Woo Roh
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 1575–1594, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1575-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1575-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The philosophy, background, and details of high-resolution urban observation network to meet the need of reducing damages caused by extreme weather phenomena such as heavy rain/snow fall, strong wind, heat/cold waves, or road ice in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), Korea (UMS-Seoul), is introduced. Two case studies demonstrate that the observed data have a great potential to help to understand the boundary-layer structures more deepl and provide useful meteorological information in the SMA.
Sandro M. Oswald, Helga Pietsch, Dietmar J. Baumgartner, Philipp Weihs, and Harald E. Rieder
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 1169–1179, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1169-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-1169-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates effects of precipitation events on the accuracy of solar radiation measurements. To quantify pyranometer responses to precipitation, a series of controlled laboratory experiments and two field campaigns were performed. The results indicate that precipitation significantly affects the thermal environment of the instruments and thus their stability. A high accuracy of solar radiation measurements is important to improve the prediction of Earth's climate change.
Katherine McCaffrey, Paul T. Quelet, Aditya Choukulkar, James M. Wilczak, Daniel E. Wolfe, Steven P. Oncley, W. Alan Brewer, Mithu Debnath, Ryan Ashton, G. Valerio Iungo, and Julie K. Lundquist
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 10, 393–407, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-393-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-10-393-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
During the eXperimental Planetary boundary layer Instrumentation Assessment (XPIA) field campaign, the wake and flow distortion from a 300-meter meteorological tower was identified using pairs of sonic anemometers mounted on opposite sides of the tower, as well as profiling and scanning lidars. Wind speed deficits up to 50% and TKE increases of 2 orders of magnitude were observed at wind directions in the wake, along with wind direction differences (flow deflection) outside of the wake.
John M. Frank, William J. Massman, and Brent E. Ewers
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 5933–5953, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5933-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-5933-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Ecosystem flux networks measure carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange and are integral to global studies of the biosphere and climate change. Yet recent evidence suggests a measurement error in sonic anemometry, the principal instrument for eddy-covariance research. A novel Bayesian analysis estimates the three-dimensional correction in these instruments and demonstrates that 60 % of the sites within the AmeriFlux network and numerous others globally underestimate all ecosystem fluxes by 8–12 %.
Line Båserud, Joachim Reuder, Marius O. Jonassen, Stephan T. Kral, Mostafa B. Paskyabi, and Marie Lothon
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 4901–4913, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4901-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4901-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The micro-RPAS SUMO (Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer) equipped with a five-hole-probe (5HP) system for turbulent flow measurements was operated in 49 flight missions during the BLLAST (Boundary-Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence) field campaign in 2011. Based on data sets from these flights, we investigate the potential and limitations of airborne velocity variance and TKE (turbulent kinetic energy) estimations by an RPAS with a take-off weight below 1 kg.
Guylaine Canut, Fleur Couvreux, Marie Lothon, Dominique Legain, Bruno Piguet, Astrid Lampert, William Maurel, and Eric Moulin
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 4375–4386, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4375-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4375-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Turbulent processes of the atmospheric boundary layer contribute the most to transfers between the surface and the atmosphere. Typically, turbulent boundary layer parameters are measured by sonic anemometers on masts and by research aircraft. This is to measure in situ turbulent parameters in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) at altitudes above 50 m. For this purpose, our team have developed a system under a tethered balloon which has been in use since 2010.
Siebren de Haan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 4141–4150, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4141-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4141-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The paper presents estimates of aircraft-derived wind observations obtained using Mode-S EHS method by applying the triple-collocation technique. Triple-collocated data sets were constructed using sodar (at Schiphol airport) and Doppler radar wind observation (from two radars in the Netherlands) in combination with numerical weather model data. It was found that the wind error near the surface is around 1.4 m s−1, while at 500 hPa the error is estimated to be around 1.1 m s−1.
Birger Bohn, Dwayne E. Heard, Nikolaos Mihalopoulos, Christian Plass-Dülmer, Rainer Schmitt, and Lisa K. Whalley
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 3455–3466, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-3455-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-3455-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Filter radiometers are instruments that quantify the rate of formation of excited oxygen atoms from photolysis of ozone in the atmosphere. The excited oxygen atoms are important for the atmospheric self-cleaning ability. The radiometers were characterised by measurements of their spectral response. Together with field comparisons with a reference instrument, the characterisations improved the performance. That will help to better understand atmospheric photochemistry in future research.
Joachim Reuder, Line Båserud, Marius O. Jonassen, Stephan T. Kral, and Martin Müller
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2675–2688, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2675-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2675-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Extensive operations of the Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer, a small (80 cm) and lightweight (700 g) unmanned research aircraft, have been performed during the BLLAST (Boundary-Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence) campaign in southern France in summer 2011. With a total of 300 flights, the SUMO system has provided a unique data set consisting of temperature, humidity and wind profiles, surface-temperature surveys and profiles of turbulence parameters.
Andreas Kräuchi and Rolf Philipona
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2535–2544, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2535-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2535-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
New radiosonde instruments for humidity-, radiation- and gas-profile measurements were introduced in recent years for atmospheric research and climate monitoring. Such instruments are intended to be reused on multiple flights. Here we introduce the return glider radiosonde (RGR), which enables flying and retrieving valuable in situ upper-air instruments. The RGR is lifted with weather balloons to a preset altitude, and a built-in autopilot flies the glider autonomously back to the launch site.
Gijs de Boer, Scott Palo, Brian Argrow, Gabriel LoDolce, James Mack, Ru-Shan Gao, Hagen Telg, Cameron Trussel, Joshua Fromm, Charles N. Long, Geoff Bland, James Maslanik, Beat Schmid, and Terry Hock
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 1845–1857, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper provides an overview of a recently developed unmanned aerial system (UAS) for study of the lower atmosphere. This platform, the University of Colorado Pilatus UAS, is capable of providing measurements of atmospheric thermodynamics (temperature, pressure, humidity), atmospheric aerosol size distributions, and broadband radiation. These quantities are critical for understanding a variety of atmospheric processes relevant for characterization of the surface energy budget.
Cited articles
Alaoui-Sosse, S., Durand, P., Medina, P., Pastor, P., Lothon, M., and
Cernov, I.: OVLI-TA: An Unmanned Aerial System for Measuring Profiles and
Turbulence in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer, Sensors, 19, 581,
https://doi.org/10.3390/s19030581, 2019.
Army UAS CoE Staff: “Eyes of the Army” U.S. Army Roadmap for Unmanned
Aircraft Systems 2010-2035, U.S. Army UAS Center of Excellence,
https://irp.fas.org/program/collect/uas-army.pdf (last access: 6 November 2022), 2010.
Båserud, L., Reuder, J., Jonassen, M. O., Kral, S. T., Paskyabi, M. B., and Lothon, M.: Proof of concept for turbulence measurements with the RPAS SUMO during the BLLAST campaign, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 4901–4913, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-4901-2016, 2016.
Butterworth, B., de Boer, G., Doddi, A., and Lawrence, D.: A Study of
Intermittent Turbulence in Stable Arctic Boundary Layers, Atmos. Chem.
Phys., in preparation, 2022.
Calmer, R., Roberts, G. C., Preissler, J., Sanchez, K. J., Derrien, S., and O'Dowd, C.: Vertical wind velocity measurements using a five-hole probe with remotely piloted aircraft to study aerosol–cloud interactions, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 2583–2599, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-2583-2018, 2018.
Cassano, J. J.: Observations of atmospheric boundary layer temperature
profiles with a small unmanned aerial vehicle, Antarct. Sci., 26,
205–213, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000539, 2014.
Dada, L., Angot, H., Beck, I., Baccarini, A., Quéléver, L. L. J., Boyer, M., Laurila, T., Brasseur, Z., Jozef, G., de Boer, G., Shupe, M. D., Henning, S., Bucci, S., Dütsch, M., Stohl, A., Petäjä, T., Daellenbach, K. R., Jokinen, T., and Schmale, J.: A central arctic extreme aerosol event triggered by a warm air-mass intrusion, Nat. Commun., 13, 5290, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32872-2, 2022.
de Boer, G., Palo, S., Argrow, B., LoDolce, G., Mack, J., Gao, R.-S., Telg, H., Trussel, C., Fromm, J., Long, C. N., Bland, G., Maslanik, J., Schmid, B., and Hock, T.: The Pilatus unmanned aircraft system for lower atmospheric research, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 1845–1857, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-1845-2016, 2016.
de Boer, G., Ivey, M. D., Schmid, B., Lawrence, D., Dexheimer, D., Mei, F.,
Hubbe, J., Hardesty, J. O. E., Bendure, A., Shupe, M. D., McComiskey, A., Telg,
H., Schmitt, C., Matrosov, S., Brooks, I., Creamean, J. M., Solomon, A.,
Turner, D. D., Williams, C., Maahn, M., Argrow, B., Palo, S., Long, C. N.,
Gao, R.-S., and Mather, J.: A Bird's Eye View: Development of an Operational
ARM Unmanned Aerial Systems Capability for Atmospheric Research in Arctic
Alaska, B. Amer. Meteorol. Soc., 99,
1197–1212, https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-17-0156.1, 2018.
de Boer, G., Dexheimer, D., Mei, F., Hubbe, J., Longbottom, C., Carroll, P. J., Apple, M., Goldberger, L., Oaks, D., Lapierre, J., Crume, M., Bernard, N., Shupe, M. D., Solomon, A., Intrieri, J., Lawrence, D., Doddi, A., Holdridge, D. J., Hubbell, M., Ivey, M. D., and Schmid, B.: Atmospheric observations made at Oliktok Point, Alaska, as part of the Profiling at Oliktok Point to Enhance YOPP Experiments (POPEYE) campaign, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 1349–1362, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1349-2019, 2019.
de Boer, G., Diehl, C., Jacob, J., Houston, A., Smith, S. W., Chilson, P.,
Schmale III, D. G., Intrieri, J., Pinto, J., Elston, J., Brus, D., Kemppinen,
O., Clark, A., Lawrence, D., Bailey, S. C. C., Sama, M. P., Frazier, A., Crick,
C., Natalie, V., Pillar-Little, E., Klein, P., Waugh, S., Lundquist, J. K.,
Barbieri, L., Kral, S. T., Jensen, A. A., Dixon, C., Borenstein, S.,
Hesselius, D., Human, K., Hall, P., Argrow, B., Thornberry, T., Wright, R.,
and Kelly, J. T.: Development of Community, Capabilities and Understanding
through Unmanned Aircraft-Based Atmospheric Research: The LAPSE-RATE
Campaign, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 101, E684–E699,
https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-19-0050.1, 2020.
de Boer, G., Dixon, C., Borenstein, S., Lawrence, D. A., Elston, J., Hesselius, D., Stachura, M., Laurence III, R., Swenson, S., Choate, C. M., Doddi, A., Sesnic, A., Glasheen, K., Laouar, Z., Quinby, F., Frew, E., and Argrow, B. M.: University of Colorado and Black Swift Technologies RPAS-based measurements of the lower atmosphere during LAPSE-RATE, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2515–2528, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2515-2021, 2021.
de Boer, G., Borenstein, S., Calmer, R., Cox, C., Rhodes, M., Choate, C., Hamilton, J., Osborn, J., Lawrence, D., Argrow, B., and Intrieri, J.: Measurements from the University of Colorado RAAVEN Uncrewed Aircraft System during ATOMIC, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 19–31, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-19-2022, 2022a.
de Boer, G., Calmer, R., Jozef, G., Cassano, J. J., Hamilton, J., Lawrence, D., Borenstein, S., Doddi, A., Cox, C., Schmale, J., Preußer, A., and Argrow, B.: Observing the Central Arctic Atmosphere and Surface with University of Colorado uncrewed aircraft systems, Sci. Data, 9, 439, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01526-9, 2022b.
de Boer, G., Elston, J., Houston, A., Pillar-Little, E., Argrow, B., Bell,
T., Chilson, P., Choate, C., Greene, B., Islam, A., Jacob, J., Martz, R.,
Natalie, V., Rhodes, M., Rico, D., Stachura, M., Lappin, F., Whyte, S., and
Wilson, M.: Evaluation and Intercomparison of Small Uncrewed Aircraft
Systems Used for Atmospheric Research, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., in preparation, 2022c.
Doddi, A., Lawrence, D., Fritts, D., Wang, L., Lund, T., Brown, W., Zajic, D., and Kantha, L.: Instabilities, Dynamics, and Energetics accompanying Atmospheric Layering (IDEAL): high-resolution in situ observations and modeling in and above the nocturnal boundary layer, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4023–4045, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4023-2022, 2022.
Elston, J., Argrow, B., Stachura, M., Weibel, D., Lawrence, D., and Pope,
D.: Overview of Small Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft for Meteorological
Sampling, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 32, 97–115,
https://doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-13-00236.1, 2015.
Emanuel, K. A.: Atmospheric Convection, Oxford University Press, New York,
https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.3370150710, 1994.
Engelbart, D. A. M., Kallistratova, M., and Kouznetsov, R.: Determination of
the Turbulent Fluxes of Heat and Momentum in the ABL by Ground-Based
Remote-Sensing Techniques (a Review), Meteorol. Z., 16,
325–335, https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2007/0224, 2007.
Frehlich, R., Meillier, Y., Jensen, M., and Balsley, B.: Turbulence
Measurements with the CIRES Tethered Lifting System during CASES-99:
Calibration and Spectral Analysis of Temperature and Velocity, J. Atmos.
Sci., 60, 2487–2495, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2003)060<2487:tmwtct>2.0.co;2, 2003.
Garratt, J. R.: Review: The atmospheric boundary layer, Earth-Sci.
Rev., 37, 89–134, https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-8252(94)90026-4, 1994.
Hill, M. L., Konrad, T. G., Meyer, J. H., and Rowland, J. R.: A Small,
Radio-Controlled Aircraft as a Platform for Meteorological Sensors, APL
Technical Digest,
https://www.jhuapl.edu/Content/techdigest/pdf/APL-V10-N02/APL-10-02-Konrad.pdf (last access: 6 November 2022),
1970.
Jensen, A. A., Pinto, J. O., Bailey, S. C. C., Sobash, R. A., de Boer, G.,
Houston, A. L., Chilson, P. B., Bell, T., Romine, G., Smith, S. W., Lawrence,
D. A., Dixon, C., Lundquist, J. K., Jacob, J. D., Elston, J., Waugh, S., and
Steiner, M.: Assimilation of a Coordinated Fleet of Uncrewed Aircraft System
Observations in Complex Terrain: EnKF System Design and Preliminary
Assessment, Mon. Weather Rev., 149, 1459–1480,
https://doi.org/10.1175/mwr-d-20-0359.1, 2021.
Jensen, A. A., Pinto, J. O., Bailey, S. C. C., Sobash, R. A., Romine, G., Boer, G. de, Houston, A. L., Smith, S. W., Lawrence, D. A., Dixon, C., Lundquist, J. K., Jacob, J. D., Elston, J., Waugh, S., Brus, D., and Steiner, M.: Assimilation of a Coordinated Fleet of Uncrewed Aircraft System Observations in Complex Terrain: Observing System Experiments, Mon. Weather Rev., 150, 2737–2763, https://doi.org/10.1175/mwr-d-22-0090.1, 2022.
Jozef, G., de Boer, G., Cassano, J., Calmer, R., Hamilton, J., Lawrence, D.,
Borenstein, S., Doddi, A., Schmale, J., Preußer, A., and Argrow, B.:
DataHawk2 Uncrewed Aircraft System data from the Multidisciplinary drifting
Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) campaign, B1 level, Arctic Data Center [data set], https://doi.org/10.18739/A2KH0F08V, 2021.
Jozef, G., Cassano, J., Dahlke, S., and de Boer, G.: Testing the efficacy of atmospheric boundary layer height detection algorithms using uncrewed aircraft system data from MOSAiC, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 15, 4001–4022, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-15-4001-2022, 2022.
Kantha, L. and Luce, H.: Mixing Coefficient in Stably Stratified Flows, J.
Phys. Oceanogr., 48, 2649–2665, https://doi.org/10.1175/jpo-d-18-0139.1,
2018.
Kantha, L., Lawrence, D., Luce, H., Hashiguchi, H., Tsuda, T., Wilson, R.,
Mixa, T., and Yabuki, M.: Shigaraki UAV-Radar Experiment (ShUREX): overview
of the campaign with some preliminary results, Prog. Earth Planet Sci., 4, 19,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-017-0133-x, 2017.
Kantha, L., Luce, H., Hashiguchi, H., and Doddi, A.: Atmospheric structures
in the troposphere as revealed by high-resolution backscatter images from MU
radar operating in range-imaging mode, Prog. Earth Planet Sci., 6, 32,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-019-0274-1, 2019.
Knust, R.: Polar Research and Supply Vessel POLARSTERN operated by the
Alfred-Wegener-Institute, JLSRF, 3, A119, https://doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-3-163,
2017.
Kolmogorov, A. N.: A refinement of previous hypotheses concerning the local
structure of turbulence in a viscous incompressible fluid at high Reynolds
number, J. Fluid Mech., 13, 82–85,
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112062000518, 1962.
Lawrence, D. and Doddi, A.: CU DataHawk Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Data, Version 1.0, UCAR/NCAR – Earth Observing Laboratory [data set], https://doi.org/10.26023/A0GS-1KD6-4N0S, 2019.
Lawrence, D. A. and Balsley, B. B.: High-Resolution Atmospheric Sensing of
Multiple Atmospheric Variables Using the DataHawk Small Airborne Measurement
System, J. Atmos. Ocean. Technol., 30, 2352–2366,
https://doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-12-00089.1, 2013.
Lawrence, D. A., Frew, E. W., and Pisano, W. J.: Lyapunov Vector Fields for
Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Flight Control, J. Guid. Control Dynam., 31,
1220–1229, https://doi.org/10.2514/1.34896, 2008.
Li, Q. S., Zhi, L., and Hu, F.: Boundary layer wind structure from
observations on a 325m tower, J. Wind Eng. Ind.
Aerod., 98, 818–832, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2010.08.001,
2010.
Luce, H., Kantha, L., Hashiguchi, H., Lawrence, D., Yabuki, M., Tsuda, T., and Mixa, T.: Comparisons between high-resolution profiles of squared refractive index gradient M2 measured by the Middle and Upper Atmosphere Radar and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the Shigaraki UAV-Radar Experiment 2015 campaign, Ann. Geophys., 35, 423–441, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-423-2017, 2017.
Luce, H., Kantha, L., Hashiguchi, H., Lawrence, D., and Doddi, A.:
Turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rates estimated from concurrent UAV
and MU radar measurements, Earth Planet. Space, 70, 207,
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-018-0979-1, 2018a.
Luce, H., Kantha, L., Hashiguchi, H., Lawrence, D., Mixa, T., Yabuki, M.,
and Tsuda, T.: Vertical structure of the lower troposphere derived from MU
radar, unmanned aerial vehicle, and balloon measurements during ShUREX 2015,
Prog. Earth Planet Sci., 5, 29, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-018-0187-4, 2018b.
Luce, H., Kantha, L., Hashiguchi, H., and Lawrence, D.: Estimation of
Turbulence Parameters in the Lower Troposphere from ShUREX (2016–2017) UAV
Data, Atmosphere, 10, 384, https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070384, 2019.
Maturilli, M., Holdridge, D.J., Dahlke, S., Graeser, J., Sommerfeld, A.,
Jaiser, R., Deckelmann, H., and Schulz, A.: Initial radiosonde data from
2019-10 to 2020-09 during project MOSAiC, Alfred Wegener Institute,
Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, PANGAEA
[dataset], https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.928656, 2021.
Naftel, J. C.: NASA Global Hawk: A New Tool for Earth Science Research,
33rd International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, 1 May
2009, NASA/TM-2009-214647, 2009.
Nixdorf, U., Dethloff, K., Rex, M., Shupe, M., Sommerfeld, A., Perovich, D.
K., Nicolaus, M., Heuzé, C., Rabe, B., Loose, B., Damm, E., Gradinger,
R., Fong, A., Maslowski, W., Rinke, A., Kwok, R., Spreen, G., Wendisch, M.,
Herber, A., Hirsekorn, M., Mohaupt, V., Frickenhaus, S., Immerz, A.,
Weiss-Tuider, K., König, B., Mengedoht, D., Regnery, J., Gerchow, P.,
Ransby, D., Krumpen, T., Morgenstern, A., Haas, C., Kanzow, T., Rack, F. R.,
Saitzev, V., Sokolov, V., Makarov, A., Schwarze, S., Wunderlich, T., Wurr,
K., and Boetius, A.: MOSAiC Extended Acknowledgement,
https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.5179738, 2021.
Pisano, W.: The development of an autonomous gust in-sensitive unmanned
aerial vehicle, PhD thesis, University of Colorado Boulder, 272 pp., 2009.
Prudden, S., Fisher, A., Marino, M., Mohamed, A., Watkins, S., and Wild, G.:
Measuring wind with Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, J. Wind
Eng. Ind. Aerod., 176, 197–210,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2018.03.029, 2018.
Reuder, J., Brisset, P., Jonassen, M. M., and Mayer, S.: The Small Unmanned
Meteorological Observer SUMO: A new tool for atmospheric boundary layer
research, Metz, 18, 141–147, https://doi.org/10.1127/0941-2948/2009/0363,
2009.
Reuder, J., Båserud, L., Jonassen, M. O., Kral, S. T., and Müller, M.: Exploring the potential of the RPA system SUMO for multipurpose boundary-layer missions during the BLLAST campaign, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 9, 2675–2688, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-9-2675-2016, 2016.
Segales, A. R., Greene, B. R., Bell, T. M., Doyle, W., Martin, J. J., Pillar-Little, E. A., and Chilson, P. B.: The CopterSonde: an insight into the development of a smart unmanned aircraft system for atmospheric boundary layer research, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 13, 2833–2848, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-2833-2020, 2020.
Shupe, M. D., Daniel, J. S., de Boer, G., Eloranta, E. W., Kollias, P.,
Long, C. N., Luke, E. P., Turner, D. D., and Verlinde, J.: A Focus On
Mixed-Phase Clouds, Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 89, 1549–1562,
https://doi.org/10.1175/2008bams2378.1, 2008.
Stephens, G. L., Miller, S. D., Benedetti, A., McCoy, R. B., McCoy Jr., R. F., Ellingson, R. G., Vitko Jr., J., Bolton, W., Tooman, T. P., Valero, F.
P. J., Minnis, P., Pilewskie, P., Phipps, G. S., Sekelsky, S., Carswell, J.
R., Lederbuhr, A., and Bambha, R.: The Department of Energy's Atmospheric
Radiation Measurement (ARM) Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle (UAV) Program, Bull.
Amer. Meteor. Soc., 81, 2915–2938,
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(2000)081<2915:tdoesa>2.3.co;2, 2000.
Stull, R.: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Atmospheric and
Oceanographic Sciences Library, Springer Dordrecht,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3027-8, 1988.
van den Kroonenberg, A., Martin, T., Buschmann, M., Bange, J., and
Vörsmann, P.: Measuring the Wind Vector Using the Autonomous Mini Aerial
Vehicle M2AV, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 25, 1969–1982,
https://doi.org/10.1175/2008jtecha1114.1, 2008.
Wilczak, J. M., Gossard, E. E., Neff, W. D., and Eberhard, W. L.:
Ground-Based Remote Sensing of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer: 25 Years of
Progress, Bound-Lay. Meteorol., 79, 321–349,
https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00120940, 1996.
Wildmann, N., Hofsäß, M., Weimer, F., Joos, A., and Bange, J.: MASC
– a small Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) for wind energy research, Adv.
Sci. Res., 11, 55–61, https://doi.org/10.5194/asr-11-55-2014, 2014.
Wille, J. D., Bromwich, D. H., Cassano, J. J., Nigro, M. A., Mateling, M.
E., and Lazzara, M. A.: Evaluation of the AMPS Boundary Layer Simulations on
the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, with Unmanned Aircraft Observations, J.
Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 56, 2239–2258,
https://doi.org/10.1175/jamc-d-16-0339.1, 2017.
Witte, B. M., Schlagenhauf, C., Mullen, J., Helvey, J. P., Thamann, M. A.,
and Bailey, S.: Fundamental Turbulence Measurement with Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (Invited), 8th AIAA Atmospheric and Space Environments Conference,
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2016-3584, 2016.
Wolfe, D. E. and Lataitis, R. J.: Boulder Atmospheric Observatory:
1977–2016: The End of an Era and Lessons Learned, B. Am.
Meteorol. Soc., 99, 1345–1358,
https://doi.org/10.1175/bams-d-17-0054.1, 2018.
Short summary
The DataHawk2 is a small, low-cost, rugged, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) used to observe the thermodynamic and turbulence structures of the lower atmosphere, supporting an advanced understanding of the physical processes that regulate weather and climate. This paper discusses the development, performance, and sensing capabilities of the DataHawk2 using data collected during several recent field deployments.
The DataHawk2 is a small, low-cost, rugged, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) used to observe the...
