Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-174
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-2024-174
13 Nov 2024
 | 13 Nov 2024
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal AMT.

Atmospheric sounding of the boundary layer over alpine glaciers using fixed-wing UAVs

Alexander Raphael Groos, Nicolas Brand, Murat Bronz, and Andreas Philipp

Abstract. Glaciers are an integral part of the high mountain environment and interact with the overlying atmosphere and surrounding terrain in a complex and dynamic manner. The energy exchange between the glacier surface and the overlying atmosphere controls ice melt rates and promotes the formation of a low-level katabatic jet that interacts with other, often thermally driven winds in alpine terrain. Information on the structure of the atmospheric boundary layer over glaciers is crucial for studying the characteristics of the katabatic jet, its broader cooling effect, and its susceptibility to be broken up by strong valley or synoptic winds that promote heat advection from the ice- and snow-free periphery towards the glacier. While the number of ground-based measurements from weather stations and meteorological towers installed on glaciers for boundary layer research has increased in recent years, a lightweight and mobile measurement technique for atmospheric sounding over alpine glaciers has not yet been available. Here we describe a new measurement technique based on a low-cost and open-source fixed-wing UAV, which allows sounding the atmospheric boundary layer over glaciers up to several hundred metres above the surface. Vertical profiles of air temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, wind direction and turbulence can be derived from the meteorological and flight recorder data collected by the UAV. The results of a measurement campaign on the Kanderfirn in the Swiss Alps on 16 June 2021 demonstrate the potential of the technique and highlight typical features of the boundary layer above a melting glacier surface. The soundings reveal a persistent low-level katabatic jet, characterised by a pronounced surface-based inversion, relatively dry air, high wind speeds and enhanced turbulence, and a warmer and more humid valley wind aloft.

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Alexander Raphael Groos, Nicolas Brand, Murat Bronz, and Andreas Philipp

Status: open (until 09 Jan 2025)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on amt-2024-174', Anonymous Referee #1, 05 Dec 2024 reply
Alexander Raphael Groos, Nicolas Brand, Murat Bronz, and Andreas Philipp

Data sets

Atmospheric sounding of the boundary layer over alpine glaciers using fixed-wing UAVs Alexander R. Groos, Nicolas Brand, Murat Bronz, and Andreas Philipp https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13889613

Model code and software

mmp - mobile measurement post-processing Andreas Philipp https://git.rz.uni-augsburg.de/philipan/mmp

Alexander Raphael Groos, Nicolas Brand, Murat Bronz, and Andreas Philipp

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Short summary
We have developed a low-cost, lightweight, and open-source fixed-wing drone to study vertical changes in air temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, wind direction and turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer over mountain glaciers. The results of a measurement campaign on a glacier in the Swiss Alps demonstrate the potential of the new measurement technique and reveal characteristic insights into glacier-atmosphere interactions and the mountain-valley wind circulation.