Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Observations of atmospheric boundary layer temperature profiles with a small unmanned aerial vehicle

Cassano, J.J.

2014, Antarctic Science, 26, Issue 2, 215-213, doi:10/1017/S0954102013000539.

Small Unmanned Meteorological Observer (SUMO) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used to observe atmospheric boundary layer temperature profiles in the vicinity of McMurdo Station, Antarctica during January and September 2012. The observations from four flight days are shown and exhibit a variety of boundary layer temperature profiles ranging from deep, well-mixed conditions to strong, shallow inversions. Repeat UAV profiles over short periods of time (tens of minutes to several hours) revealed rapid changes in boundary layer structure. The success of the SUMO flights described here demonstrates the potential for using small UAVs for Antarctic research.