Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV
A 307-m tall meteorological tower was used to evaluate meteorological observation data obtained using a rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A comparative study between the tower and UAV observations was conducted during the daytime (06:00 to 19:00 local time (LT)) in the summer of 2017 (16–18...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1142 |
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| author | Kyung-Hwan Kwak Seung-Hyeop Lee A-Young Kim Kwon-Chan Park Sang-Eun Lee Beom-Soon Han Joohyun Lee Young-San Park |
| author_facet | Kyung-Hwan Kwak Seung-Hyeop Lee A-Young Kim Kwon-Chan Park Sang-Eun Lee Beom-Soon Han Joohyun Lee Young-San Park |
| author_sort | Kyung-Hwan Kwak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A 307-m tall meteorological tower was used to evaluate meteorological observation data obtained using a rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A comparative study between the tower and UAV observations was conducted during the daytime (06:00 to 19:00 local time (LT)) in the summer of 2017 (16–18th August). Hourly vertical profiles of air temperature, relative humidity, black carbon (BC), and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) concentrations were obtained for up to 300 m height. Statistical metrics for evaluating the accuracy of UAV observations against the tower observation showed positive (potential temperature) and negative (relative humidity) biases, which were within acceptable ranges. The daytime evolution of the lower atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) was successfully captured by the hourly UAV observations. During the early morning, a large vertical slope of potential temperature was observed between 100 and 140 m, corresponding to the stable ABL height. The large vertical slope coincided with the large differences in BC and O<sub>3</sub> concentrations between altitudes below and above the height. The transition from stable to convective ABL was observed at 10–11 LT, indicated by the ABL height higher than 300 m in the convective ABL. Finally, we provide several recommendations to reduce uncertainties of UAV observation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:25:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc63759c873948c4b1f09373a75ab1e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:25:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc63759c873948c4b1f09373a75ab1e62023-11-20T18:07:03ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-10-011111114210.3390/atmos11111142Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAVKyung-Hwan Kwak0Seung-Hyeop Lee1A-Young Kim2Kwon-Chan Park3Sang-Eun Lee4Beom-Soon Han5Joohyun Lee6Young-San Park7School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, KoreaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, KoreaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, KoreaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, KoreaDepartment of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, KoreaSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, KoreaSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, KoreaInnovative Meteorological Research Department, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Seogwipo 63568, KoreaA 307-m tall meteorological tower was used to evaluate meteorological observation data obtained using a rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A comparative study between the tower and UAV observations was conducted during the daytime (06:00 to 19:00 local time (LT)) in the summer of 2017 (16–18th August). Hourly vertical profiles of air temperature, relative humidity, black carbon (BC), and ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) concentrations were obtained for up to 300 m height. Statistical metrics for evaluating the accuracy of UAV observations against the tower observation showed positive (potential temperature) and negative (relative humidity) biases, which were within acceptable ranges. The daytime evolution of the lower atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) was successfully captured by the hourly UAV observations. During the early morning, a large vertical slope of potential temperature was observed between 100 and 140 m, corresponding to the stable ABL height. The large vertical slope coincided with the large differences in BC and O<sub>3</sub> concentrations between altitudes below and above the height. The transition from stable to convective ABL was observed at 10–11 LT, indicated by the ABL height higher than 300 m in the convective ABL. Finally, we provide several recommendations to reduce uncertainties of UAV observation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1142atmospheric boundary layerdaytime evolutionvertical profilemeteorological observation towerrotary-wing UAV |
| spellingShingle | Kyung-Hwan Kwak Seung-Hyeop Lee A-Young Kim Kwon-Chan Park Sang-Eun Lee Beom-Soon Han Joohyun Lee Young-San Park Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV Atmosphere atmospheric boundary layer daytime evolution vertical profile meteorological observation tower rotary-wing UAV |
| title | Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV |
| title_full | Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV |
| title_fullStr | Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV |
| title_short | Daytime Evolution of Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure: Comparative Observations between a 307-m Meteorological Tower and a Rotary-Wing UAV |
| title_sort | daytime evolution of lower atmospheric boundary layer structure comparative observations between a 307 m meteorological tower and a rotary wing uav |
| topic | atmospheric boundary layer daytime evolution vertical profile meteorological observation tower rotary-wing UAV |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1142 |
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