Light Weight UAVs for Unravelling the Nexus Between Chemistry, Physics and Dynamics

Abstract:

New discoveries in atmospheric sciences involve unravelling the interactions and feedback processes between chemitsry, physics and dynamics. One of the most complex of such problems is the role of aerosol-clouds-climate interactions in climate change. During the last 7 years we have designed field experiments with light weight UAVs that are flown in stacked as well as formation flying patterns to map out the three dimensional structure of the atmosphere. Such formation and stacked formation flights have enabled us to measure simulatneously aerosol chemistry, cloud micro physics, cloud albedo, divergence of radiative heating of the atmosphere and more recently the vertical structure of turbulent fluxes of water avpor and momentum. These first-such measurments have provided new insights into the role of aerosols in cloud albedo; vertical distribution of black and brown carbon heating; role of absorbing aerosols in the melting of Himalayan glaciers; role of mixing state of aerosols in aerosol forcing and recently the link between absorbing aerosols and turbulent fluxes. All of the instruments had to be miniaturized to fit into the UAVs with maximum of 6 kg of payload. The most impprtant aspects of our studies are that the instruments and their intergration with the UAvs were all developed by post doctoral candidates and students. Thus the light weight UAVs are ideal platforms for making pioneerign studies by students and young scientists.