Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Colin Deputy, Senior David Zink, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Colin Deputy
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Kevin Adkins and Professor Avinash Muthu Krishnan
Abstract
The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is the lowest level within the atmosphere and is highly influenced by the Earth’s surface. When specifically influenced by the built environment, the ABL is referred to as the urban boundary layer (UBL) and varies in structure, including sharp gradients in temperature, humidity and wind. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) can be used to better characterize these gradients with their ability to undertake observations with high spatial resolution. The International Society for Atmospheric Research Using Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ISARRA) hosted a flight week with the objective of undertaking observations within and around Tulsa, Oklahoma. UAS equipped with meteorological instruments were used to measure temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed. Multirotor UAS flew vertical profiles and fixed wing UAS flew vertically stacked horizontal transects. Data collection occurred over a four-day period, including during the morning transition, at altitudes up to 400 meters above ground level (AGL). The collected data showcases transitions in the UBL throughout the day. Observations undertaken in the morning show a classic, stable boundary layer evolving to a well-mixed convective boundary layer. The work underscores the ability of UAS to increase UBL observations to the benefit of weather forecasting, such as numerical weather prediction and nowcasting.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Yes, Spark Grant
Using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to Investigate the Urban Boundary Layer
The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is the lowest level within the atmosphere and is highly influenced by the Earth’s surface. When specifically influenced by the built environment, the ABL is referred to as the urban boundary layer (UBL) and varies in structure, including sharp gradients in temperature, humidity and wind. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) can be used to better characterize these gradients with their ability to undertake observations with high spatial resolution. The International Society for Atmospheric Research Using Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ISARRA) hosted a flight week with the objective of undertaking observations within and around Tulsa, Oklahoma. UAS equipped with meteorological instruments were used to measure temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed. Multirotor UAS flew vertical profiles and fixed wing UAS flew vertically stacked horizontal transects. Data collection occurred over a four-day period, including during the morning transition, at altitudes up to 400 meters above ground level (AGL). The collected data showcases transitions in the UBL throughout the day. Observations undertaken in the morning show a classic, stable boundary layer evolving to a well-mixed convective boundary layer. The work underscores the ability of UAS to increase UBL observations to the benefit of weather forecasting, such as numerical weather prediction and nowcasting.