Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS)
Small unoccupied aerial systems (sUASs) are increasingly being used for field data collection and remote sensing purposes. Their ease of use, ability to carry sensors, low cost, and precise maneuverability and navigation make them a versatile tool for a field researcher. Procedures and instrumentati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/5/3/82 |
| _version_ | 1797519610103201792 |
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| author | Elizabeth M. Prior Gretchen R. Miller Kelly Brumbelow |
| author_facet | Elizabeth M. Prior Gretchen R. Miller Kelly Brumbelow |
| author_sort | Elizabeth M. Prior |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Small unoccupied aerial systems (sUASs) are increasingly being used for field data collection and remote sensing purposes. Their ease of use, ability to carry sensors, low cost, and precise maneuverability and navigation make them a versatile tool for a field researcher. Procedures and instrumentation for sUASs are largely undefined, especially for atmospheric and hydrologic applications. The sUAS’s ability to collect atmospheric data for characterizing land–atmosphere interactions was examined at three distinct locations: Costa Rican rainforest, mountainous terrain in Georgia, USA, and land surfaces surrounding a lake in Florida, USA. This study aims to give further insight on rapid, sub-hourly changes in the planetary boundary layer and how land development alters land–atmosphere interactions. The methodology of using an sUAS for land–atmospheric remote sensing and data collection was developed and refined by considering sUAS wind downdraft influence and executing systematic flight patterns throughout the day. The sUAS was successful in gathering temperature and dew point data, including rapid variations due to changing weather conditions, at high spatial and temporal resolution over various land types, including water, forest, mountainous terrain, agriculture, and impermeable human-made surfaces. The procedure produced reliably consistent vertical profiles over small domains in space and time, validating the general approach. These findings suggest a healthy ability to diagnose land surface atmospheric interactions that influence the dynamic nature of the near-surface boundary layer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:45:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b51d0191c7748509df7abfb6ab3f222 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:45:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b51d0191c7748509df7abfb6ab3f2222023-11-22T12:43:08ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2021-08-01538210.3390/drones5030082Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS)Elizabeth M. Prior0Gretchen R. Miller1Kelly Brumbelow2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USAZachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAZachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USASmall unoccupied aerial systems (sUASs) are increasingly being used for field data collection and remote sensing purposes. Their ease of use, ability to carry sensors, low cost, and precise maneuverability and navigation make them a versatile tool for a field researcher. Procedures and instrumentation for sUASs are largely undefined, especially for atmospheric and hydrologic applications. The sUAS’s ability to collect atmospheric data for characterizing land–atmosphere interactions was examined at three distinct locations: Costa Rican rainforest, mountainous terrain in Georgia, USA, and land surfaces surrounding a lake in Florida, USA. This study aims to give further insight on rapid, sub-hourly changes in the planetary boundary layer and how land development alters land–atmosphere interactions. The methodology of using an sUAS for land–atmospheric remote sensing and data collection was developed and refined by considering sUAS wind downdraft influence and executing systematic flight patterns throughout the day. The sUAS was successful in gathering temperature and dew point data, including rapid variations due to changing weather conditions, at high spatial and temporal resolution over various land types, including water, forest, mountainous terrain, agriculture, and impermeable human-made surfaces. The procedure produced reliably consistent vertical profiles over small domains in space and time, validating the general approach. These findings suggest a healthy ability to diagnose land surface atmospheric interactions that influence the dynamic nature of the near-surface boundary layer.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/5/3/82land–atmosphere interactionsplanetary boundary layerunmanned aerial vehiclesunoccupied aerial vehiclesvertical atmospheric profilesbiometeorology |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth M. Prior Gretchen R. Miller Kelly Brumbelow Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) Drones land–atmosphere interactions planetary boundary layer unmanned aerial vehicles unoccupied aerial vehicles vertical atmospheric profiles biometeorology |
| title | Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) |
| title_full | Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) |
| title_fullStr | Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) |
| title_short | Topographic and Landcover Influence on Lower Atmospheric Profiles Measured by Small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) |
| title_sort | topographic and landcover influence on lower atmospheric profiles measured by small unoccupied aerial systems suas |
| topic | land–atmosphere interactions planetary boundary layer unmanned aerial vehicles unoccupied aerial vehicles vertical atmospheric profiles biometeorology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/5/3/82 |
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