Meteorological profiling of the lower troposphere using the research UAV "M<sup>2</sup>AV Carolo"

Abstract

Abstract. Vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and wind up to a height of 1500 m a.g.l. (above ground level) were measured with the automatically operating small unmanned research aircraft M 2 AV (Meteorological Mini Aerial Vehicle) during the LITFASS-2009 (LIndenbergTo-Falkenberg: Aircraft, Scintillometer and large-eddy Simulation) experiment. The campaign took place in July 2009 over the heterogeneous landscape around the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg -Richard-Aßmann-Observatory in the eastern part of Germany. Due to a high vertical resolution of about 10 cm the M 2 AV data show details of the turbulent structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). One profile took about 10-15 min allowing for a continuous monitoring of certain phases of ABL development by successive ascents and descents during one flight (50-60 min duration). Two case studies of measurements performed during the morning and evening ABL transition periods are discussed in detail. Comparison of the aircraftbased temperature, humidity and wind profiles with tower, sodar/RASS, wind profiler/RASS, radiosoundings and microwave radiometer profiler measurements show good agreement taking into account the different sampling strategies of these measurement systems.

Two fast temperature sensors for probing of the atmospheric boundary layer using small remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)

“…The site is located at 52.1669 • N, 14.1242 • E in north-east Germany in a heterogenous but nearly flat terrain. It was used previously in comparative sensor studies for airborne meteorology (Martin et al, 2011). Approximately 200 m from the take-off location for the RPA, a 99 m tower with meteorological instruments at 6 heights, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction measurements, is installed.…”

“…Nevertheless, numerous different systems have been developed within the last decade and have proved to produce valuable data (Martin and Bange, 2013;Martin et al, 2011;Reuder et al, 2009;Spiess et al, 2007;Dias et al, 2012;van den Kroonenberg et al, 2008). In general, the possibilities for meteorological measurements with small remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) are in between manned aircraft measurements and radiosonde soundings.…”

Towards higher accuracy and better frequency response with standard multi-hole probes in turbulence measurement with remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)

“…The ISM probe was intensively used in field campaigns (e.g. Martin et al, 2011;van den Kroonenberg et al, 2011;Spieß et al, 2007) with the M 2 AV. Table 1 shows how dimensionless coefficients are defined from the pressures at the probe.…”

Low-level mixing height detection in coastal locations with a scanning Doppler lidar

“…For instance, turbulent mixing measurements have been carried out with radiosondes (Harrison and Hogan, 2006), tethered balloons (Siebert et al, 2003), various aircraft (Muschinski and Wode, 1998;Khelif et al, 1999) and recently small unmanned aerial vehicles (Martin et al, 2011). Deployed in-aircraft in situ sensors can yield mixing information with an unsurpassed resolution both spatially and temporally (Muschinski and Wode, 1998;Martin et al, 2014).…”