EAGER: Cloud Microphysics Measurements Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems

小型无人机系统在大气研究领域提供了独特的可能性。这些系统的一个令人信服的用途是在其他飞机无法定期采样的地方填补测量空白。该奖项将为一个概念验证系统提供资金，以测量云的属性。这项工作背后的总体概念是，UAS对降水和云粒的测量将有助于更好地为天气模型提供信息，并改进雷达观测，最终目标是改善天气预报，造福社会。几名学生将接受培训，这些仪器将用于推广工作。该奖项是为了表彰将用于加强云和降水物理研究的仪器的获取、开发和测试。小型无人机系统(SUAS)将安装三台新仪器：1)用于测量对流云附近云凝结核计数的凝聚粒子计数器，2)用于测量液体水流星的液滴大小分布的悬浮仪，以及3)用于估计液滴大小分布三阶矩的液体水含量传感器。主要任务包括仪器的初步测试，开发让每个传感器升空的方法，然后在不同类型的云和降水事件中进行多达12次部署。云特性的现场测量可用于阐明降水系统内的微物理过程，为雷达观测和模拟研究提供验证，并为云模型开发低层雷达变量估计的新方法。

Small unmanned aircraft systems offer unique possibilities in areas of atmospheric research. One of the compelling uses for these systems is to fill in gaps in measurements in places where it is too expensive or too dangerous for other aircraft to regularly sample. This award will provide funding for a proof-of-concept system to measure cloud properties. The overall concept behind the work is that UAS measurements of precipitation and cloud particles will help to better inform weather models and improve radar observations, with an end goal of improving weather forecasts for the benefit of society. Several students will be trained and the instruments will be used in outreach efforts.This award is for the acquisition, development, and testing of instrumentation that will be used to enhance studies of cloud and precipitation physics. Three new instruments will be incorporated onto a small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS): 1) a condensation particle counter for the measurement of the number count of cloud condensation nuclei in the vicinity of convective clouds, 2) a disdrometer for the drop size distribution of liquid hydrometeors, and 3) a liquid water content sensor for the estimation of the third moment of the drop size distribution. The main tasks include initial testing of the instruments, the development of methods to get each sensor airborne, and then up to 12 deployments in varying types of cloud and precipitation events. The in-situ measurements of cloud properties can be used to elucidate microphysical processes within precipitation systems, to provide validation for radar observations and modeling studies, and to develop new methods of estimating radar variables at low levels for cloud models.