Moving towards a Network of Autonomous UAS Atmospheric Profiling Stations for Observations in the Earth’s Lower Atmosphere: The 3D Mesonet Concept
by
Phillip B. Chilson 1,2,3,*
, Tyler M. Bell 1,2, Keith A. Brewster 1,4, Gustavo Britto Hupsel de Azevedo 2,5, Frederick H. Carr 1, Kenneth Carson 6, William Doyle 2, Christopher A. Fiebrich 1,7, Brian R. Greene 1,2,3, James L. Grimsley 8, Sai Teja Kanneganti 2,9, Joshua Martin 1,2, Andrew Moore 1, Robert D. Palmer 1,3, Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little 1,2, Jorge L. Salazar-Cerreno 2,3,5, Antonio R. Segales 2,3,5, Mark E. Weber 10, Mark Yeary 3,5 and Kelvin K. Droegemeier 1
Phillip B. Chilson 1,2,3,*, Tyler M. Bell 1,2, Keith A. Brewster 1,4, Gustavo Britto Hupsel de Azevedo 2,5, Frederick H. Carr 1, Kenneth Carson 6, William Doyle 2, Christopher A. Fiebrich 1,7, Brian R. Greene 1,2,3, James L. Grimsley 8, Sai Teja Kanneganti 2,9, Joshua Martin 1,2, Andrew Moore 1, Robert D. Palmer 1,3, Elizabeth A. Pillar-Little 1,2, Jorge L. Salazar-Cerreno 2,3,5, Antonio R. Segales 2,3,5, Mark E. Weber 10, Mark Yeary 3,5 and Kelvin K. Droegemeier 1
1
School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
2
Center for Autonomous Sensing and Sampling, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
3
Advanced Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
4
Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
5
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
6
School of Aviation Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
7
Oklahoma Mesonet, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
8
Advanced Technology Initiatives, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Durant, OK 74701, USA
9
School of Computer Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
10
Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sensors 2019, 19(12), 2720; https://doi.org/10.3390/s19122720
Received: 1 April 2019 / Revised: 10 June 2019 / Accepted: 12 June 2019 / Published: 17 June 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Atmospheric Science)
The deployment of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to collect routine in situ vertical profiles of the thermodynamic and kinematic state of the atmosphere in conjunction with other weather observations could significantly improve weather forecasting skill and resolution. High-resolution vertical measurements of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction are critical to the understanding of atmospheric boundary layer processes integral to air–surface (land, ocean and sea ice) exchanges of energy, momentum, and moisture; how these are affected by climate variability; and how they impact weather forecasts and air quality simulations. We explore the potential value of collecting coordinated atmospheric profiles at fixed surface observing sites at designated times using instrumented UAS. We refer to such a network of autonomous weather UAS designed for atmospheric profiling and capable of operating in most weather conditions as a 3D Mesonet. We outline some of the fundamental and high-impact science questions and sampling needs driving the development of the 3D Mesonet and offer an overview of the general concept of operations. Preliminary measurements from profiling UAS are presented and we discuss how measurements from an operational network could be realized to better characterize the atmospheric boundary layer, improve weather forecasts, and help to identify threats of severe weather.
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Keywords:
atmospheric boundary layer; meteorology; forecasting; risk mitigation; sensor integration; unmanned aerial systems
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MDPI and ACS Style
Chilson, P.B.; Bell, T.M.; Brewster, K.A.; Britto Hupsel de Azevedo, G.; Carr, F.H.; Carson, K.; Doyle, W.; Fiebrich, C.A.; Greene, B.R.; Grimsley, J.L.; Kanneganti, S.T.; Martin, J.; Moore, A.; Palmer, R.D.; Pillar-Little, E.A.; Salazar-Cerreno, J.L.; Segales, A.R.; Weber, M.E.; Yeary, M.; Droegemeier, K.K. Moving towards a Network of Autonomous UAS Atmospheric Profiling Stations for Observations in the Earth’s Lower Atmosphere: The 3D Mesonet Concept. Sensors 2019, 19, 2720.
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