Atmospheric Applications of UAVs

1
Atmospheric Applications of UAVs
UASs
Graeme Stephens Dept Atmos Sci Colorado State Uni
2
Some Areas of UAS applications to atmospheric
studies
Remote sensing Atmospheric profiling of key,
non traditional parameters In situ
sampling Storm surveillance
UAS observations have important potential
applications to both weather and climate
3
Sensitive regions of the atmosphere
Regions of the atmosphere for which changes
induced by external or internal forces lead to
feedbacks that amplify the effects of the
forcings
E.g. Climate- One such region is the upper
troposphere (above 10 km) where the climate is
acutely sensitive to hydrological cycle processes
that occur there Others - areas of contrasting
air quality, remote polar regions, .. Weather
local areas of highly unstable flow that
downstream produce significant weather
4
UAV Types

• Large UAVs (Global Hawk, Altair/Altus)
• Balloons (Driftsonde, Smart Balloon)
• Small UAVs (Aerosonde, Seascan, Scaneagle. .)

Payload, altitude
Endurance and cost
Common theme - profile the atmosphere
5
The phases of activities I 1993 first profile
with UAV III UAV in formation with manned
aircraft, 1999 cirrus measurement at 55kft
altitude (Altus II) III Multiple UAVs, remote
(20km) with in situ payloads
6
(No Transcript)
7
Payload developed as part of the ARM UAV program
(Sandia)- miniaturizing payloads and data systems
was and will be an important key element of UAS
appliciations
push broom spectral imager
8
UAV Observations of cirrus, from altitude of 55
kft
radar
9
Duration and profiling
Sustained 24 hr measurement
In situ profile capability with single aircraft
10
Multiple UAV profiling - an ability to make
coincident, matched measurements at different
altitudes has many important science applications
Ramanathan and colleagues, SCRIPPS
11
SCRIPPS payload
the importance of miniaturizing sensors
12
(No Transcript)
13
Operating in remote, inhospitable environments
14
(No Transcript)
15
Record Arctic Sea Ice Minima This Year!extent
reduced especially in Western Arctic
New Record Sept. 2007
Sept. 2006
Previous Record Sept. 2005
Source NSIDC
16
Seasonal Cloud Fraction Profiles
(courtesy , Jen Kay)
3. Beaufort Sea
Cloudiness of summer of 2007 is substantially
reduced compared to that of past summers - can a
UAS observing system be nimble enough to respond
to observations (near) real time?
17
Demonstrating anover the horizon capability for
science
18
Aerosonde, SFMR and Buoy Winds inTropical Storm
Ophelia September 16th 2005
NOAA WP-3D SFMR Surface winds in light blue,
Aerosonde winds in black, buoy winds in dark
blue. Aerosonde closest approach to wind center
was 30 nm southwest and 25 nm northeast. Peak
winds at 2500 ft were 65 kt southeast of center
and 75 kt north of center. Excellent
agreement was found between buoy, SFMR and
Aerosonde winds adjusted to surface values. SFMR
winds SW of center were within 10 min of
Aerosonde.
Winds Courtesy of HWIND (OAR/AOML/HRD)
19
Storm surveillance
A satellite example of remote sensing of storms
ripe for UAS - a possible approach to the
surveillance of hurricanes
Uses three (unique) pieces of information 1. A
direct measure of the altitude of convective
clouds (ztop) 2. A measure of the emission
temperature from tops of clouds (T0) 3. A view
of the internal structures of convection in
hurricanes to identify undilute convective
cores These three pieces of information combine
to test the Emanuel theory of hurricane
intensity Vmax f(ztop, T0,SST)
Eye of hurricane
20
Summary UAVs potentially offer much in way of
providing key in situ observations of highly
sensitive regions of the atmosphere that are
practically inaccessible to conventional
observations.
The promise of UAVs Duration - provide
measurements at altitude over extended periods of
time Provide measurements over an extended
remote ranges - eg over the horizon operation
versus line of sight Cost - ??? Small UAVs and
miniaturized payloads, . Limitations on Altitude
???
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
FIRST SUCCESSFUL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT HURRICANE
OBSERVATION BY FLYING THROUGH OPHELIA Sept. 16,
2005