Meteorological profiling of the lower troposphere using the research UAV "m2AV Carolo"

Abstract

Vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and wind up to a height of 1500 m a.g.l. (above ground level) were measured with the automatically operating small unmanned research aircraft M 2AV (Meteorological Mini Aerial Vehicle) during the LITFASS-2009 (LIndenberg-To-Falkenberg: Aircraft, Scintillometer and large-eddy Simulation) experiment. The campaign took place in July 2009 over the heterogeneous landscape around the Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg - Richard-Aßmann-Observatory in the eastern part of Germany. Due to a high vertical resolution of about 10 cm the M 2AV data show details of the turbulent structure of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). One profile took about 10-15 min allowing for a continuous monitoring of certain phases of ABL development by successive ascents and descents during one flight (50-60 min duration). Two case studies of measurements performed during the morning and evening ABL transition periods are discussed in detail. Comparison of the aircraft-based temperature, humidity and wind profiles with tower, sodar/RASS, wind profiler/RASS, radiosoundings and microwave radiometer profiler measurements show good agreement taking into account the different sampling strategies of these measurement systems. © Author(s) 2011.