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.
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 de 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
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Francesca Lappin, Gijs de Boer, Petra Klein, Jonathan Hamilton, Michelle Spencer, Radiance Calmer, Antonio R. Segales, Michael Rhodes, Tyler M. Bell, Justin Buchli, Kelsey Britt, Elizabeth Asher, Isaac Medina, Brian Butterworth, Leia Otterstatter, Madison Ritsch, Bryony Puxley, Angelina Miller, Arianna Jordan, Ceu Gomez-Faulk, Elizabeth Smith, Steven Borenstein, Troy Thornberry, Brian Argrow, and Elizabeth Pillar-Little
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 2525–2541, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2525-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2525-2024, 2024
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This article provides an overview of the lower-atmospheric dataset collected by two uncrewed aerial systems near the Gulf of Mexico coastline south of Houston, TX, USA, as part of the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) campaign. The data were collected through boundary layer transitions, through sea breeze circulations, and in the pre- and near-storm environment to understand how these processes influence the coastal environment.
Ulrike Egerer, John J. Cassano, Matthew D. Shupe, Gijs de Boer, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Holger Siebert, Gina Jozef, Radiance Calmer, Jonathan Hamilton, Christian Pilz, and Michael Lonardi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2297–2317, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2297-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2297-2023, 2023
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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, as turbulent exchange in this region is often suppressed but is still important to understand how the atmosphere interacts with sea ice. We present three case studies from the MOSAiC field campaign in Arctic sea ice in 2020.
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
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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
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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.
Leah J. Bertrand, Jennifer E. Kay, and Gijs de Boer
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4740, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4740, 2026
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Using 23 years of US DOE and NOAA observations on the North Slope of Alaska, we show how long-term changes in cloud properties strongly modulate surface warming: during the dark season (October–March), cloud changes double the infrared surface warming effect of atmospheric warming and moistening. During the sunlit season (April–September), changing clouds and rising mid-summer surface albedo reverse that infrared surface warming effect entirely.
Brian J. Butterworth, Brent G. T. Else, Kristina A. Brown, Christopher J. Mundy, William J. Williams, Lina M. Rotermund, and Gijs de Boer
The Cryosphere, 19, 5317–5335, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5317-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5317-2025, 2025
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Observations of carbon dioxide transfer between water and air were measured at a seasonally ice-covered marine location using the eddy covariance method. The goal was to determine how sea ice influences water-air transfer of carbon dioxide by season. During full ice cover in winter, ice acted as a barrier to transfer. In spring, melt water absorbed carbon dioxide from the air. In fall, freezing released carbon dioxide from water to the air.
Aidan D. Pantoya, Stephanie R. Simonsen, Elisabeth Andrews, Ross Burgener, Christopher J. Cox, Gijs de Boer, Bryan D. Thomas, and Naruki Hiranuma
Aerosol Research, 3, 253–270, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-253-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ar-3-253-2025, 2025
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We present continuous ice-nucleating particle data that were measured in the Alaskan Arctic from October 2021 to December 2023. We found a greater efficiency in the arctic immersion freezing during fall compared to those found previously at two mid-latitude sites, together with profound freezing efficiencies in spring, presumably due to arctic haze events. Our study will be useful for improving atmospheric models to simulate cloud feedback and determine their impact on the global radiative energy budget.
Christopher J. Cox, Janet M. Intrieri, Brian J. Butterworth, Gijs de Boer, Michael R. Gallagher, Jonathan Hamilton, Erik Hulm, Tilden Meyers, Sara M. Morris, Jackson Osborn, P. Ola G. Persson, Benjamin Schmatz, Matthew D. Shupe, and James M. Wilczak
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 1481–1499, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1481-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1481-2025, 2025
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Snow is an essential water resource in the intermountain western United States, and predictions are made using models. We made observations to validate, constrain, and develop the models. The data are from the Study of Precipitation, the Lower Atmosphere and Surface for Hydrometeorology (SPLASH) campaign in Colorado's East River valley, 2021–2023. The measurements include meteorology and variables that quantify energy transfer between the atmosphere and surface. The data are available publicly.
Francesca Lappin, Gijs de Boer, Petra Klein, Jonathan Hamilton, Michelle Spencer, Radiance Calmer, Antonio R. Segales, Michael Rhodes, Tyler M. Bell, Justin Buchli, Kelsey Britt, Elizabeth Asher, Isaac Medina, Brian Butterworth, Leia Otterstatter, Madison Ritsch, Bryony Puxley, Angelina Miller, Arianna Jordan, Ceu Gomez-Faulk, Elizabeth Smith, Steven Borenstein, Troy Thornberry, Brian Argrow, and Elizabeth Pillar-Little
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 2525–2541, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2525-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2525-2024, 2024
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This article provides an overview of the lower-atmospheric dataset collected by two uncrewed aerial systems near the Gulf of Mexico coastline south of Houston, TX, USA, as part of the TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) campaign. The data were collected through boundary layer transitions, through sea breeze circulations, and in the pre- and near-storm environment to understand how these processes influence the coastal environment.
Leah Bertrand, Jennifer E. Kay, John Haynes, and Gijs de Boer
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1301–1316, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1301-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1301-2024, 2024
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The vertical structure of clouds has a major impact on global energy flows, air circulation, and the hydrologic cycle. Two satellite instruments, CloudSat radar and CALIPSO lidar, have taken complementary measurements of cloud vertical structure for over a decade. Here, we present the 3S-GEOPROF-COMB product, a globally gridded satellite data product combining CloudSat and CALIPSO observations of cloud vertical structure.
Gina C. Jozef, John J. Cassano, Sandro Dahlke, Mckenzie Dice, Christopher J. Cox, and Gijs de Boer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 24, 1429–1450, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1429-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-1429-2024, 2024
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Observations collected during MOSAiC were used to identify the range in vertical structure and stability of the central Arctic lower atmosphere through a self-organizing map analysis. Characteristics of wind features (such as low-level jets) and atmospheric moisture features (such as clouds) were analyzed in the context of the varying vertical structure and stability. Thus, the results of this paper give an overview of the thermodynamic and kinematic features of the central Arctic atmosphere.
Gina C. Jozef, Robert Klingel, John J. Cassano, Björn Maronga, Gijs de Boer, Sandro Dahlke, and Christopher J. Cox
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4983–4995, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4983-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4983-2023, 2023
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Observations from the MOSAiC expedition relating to lower-atmospheric temperature, wind, stability, moisture, and surface radiation budget from radiosondes, a meteorological tower, radiation station, and ceilometer were compiled to create a dataset which describes the thermodynamic and kinematic state of the central Arctic lower atmosphere between October 2019 and September 2020. This paper describes the methods used to develop this lower-atmospheric properties dataset.
Gina C. Jozef, John J. Cassano, Sandro Dahlke, Mckenzie Dice, Christopher J. Cox, and Gijs de Boer
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 23, 13087–13106, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13087-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-13087-2023, 2023
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Observations from the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) were used to determine the frequency of occurrence of various central Arctic lower atmospheric stability regimes and how the stability regimes transition between each other. Wind and radiation observations were analyzed in the context of stability regime and season to reveal the relationships between Arctic atmospheric stability and mechanically and radiatively driven turbulent forcings.
Hubert Luce, Lakshmi Kantha, Hiroyuki Hashiguchi, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Tyler Mixa, and Masanori Yabuki
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 3561–3580, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3561-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-3561-2023, 2023
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Doppler radars can be used to estimate turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rates in the atmosphere. The performance of various models is evaluated from comparisons between UHF wind profiler and in situ measurements with UAVs. For the first time, we assess a model supposed to be valid for weak stratification or strong shear conditions. This model provides better agreements with in situ measurements than the classical model based on the hypothesis of a stable stratification.
Ulrike Egerer, John J. Cassano, Matthew D. Shupe, Gijs de Boer, Dale Lawrence, Abhiram Doddi, Holger Siebert, Gina Jozef, Radiance Calmer, Jonathan Hamilton, Christian Pilz, and Michael Lonardi
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 2297–2317, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2297-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-2297-2023, 2023
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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, as turbulent exchange in this region is often suppressed but is still important to understand how the atmosphere interacts with sea ice. We present three case studies from the MOSAiC field campaign in Arctic sea ice in 2020.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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...