Maldives AUAV Campaign (MAC): Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (AUAV) Production and Field Operations Support

高级陶瓷研究(ACR)公司将为马尔代夫Auav Campaign(MAC)建造6架(3架飞行和3架后备)自动化无人机(AUAV)并提供现场支持，计划于2006年2月15日至3月31日进行。另见NSF Grant，Ramanathan，UCSD，SIO，ATM 0542531。观察气溶胶如何调制云微物理和云反照率的基本挑战之一是需要从云的下方、上方和内部同时观测相同的云元素；即，测量从下方和上方向云中输送的气溶胶有多少；测量作为气溶胶注入的反应，作为液滴半径函数的云滴数密度是如何变化的；最后，观察云反照率、云内太阳吸收以及太阳辐射通过云到云底的传输如何响应云微物理特性的变化。到目前为止，还没有完成这样一种同步的云图。MAC的特别重点是展示轻型AUAV可以通过从各个方面同时采样多云层来填补我们测量能力中的一个重要且至关重要的缺口。MAC的基本科学目标是对气溶胶和云如何调节行星反照率提供新的见解，特别强调人为气溶胶如何改变多云天空的反照率(所谓的“间接影响”)。Mac还将能够估计云对太阳的吸收，并测量吸收对气溶胶吸收量的依赖程度。MAC将通过使用三架AUAV的协调飞行来提供云和气溶胶微物理特性和辐射通量的直接测量。更广泛的影响。如果成功，MAC将证明AUAVs是一个相对便宜、可靠的仪器平台，用于在多维空间中同步、快速地观测云和气溶胶微物理和反馈等交互过程。MAC将为气候科学家提供有价值的数据集，用于研究被认为是气候变化研究和预测中的一个主要不确定性领域。一名学生将接受实地战役操作和研究方面的培训。NOAA和NASA正在共同支持MAC，这是一个通过美国气候变化科学计划协调的项目。

The Advanced Ceramics Research (ACR) company will build and provide field support for six (three flying and three backups) automated unmanned aerial vehicles (AUAVs) for the Maldives AUAV Campaign (MAC), scheduled for February 15 - March 31 2006. See also NSF grant, Ramanathan, UCSD, SIO, ATM 0542531.One of the fundamental challenges of observing how aerosols modulate cloud microphysics and cloud albedo is the need to observe the same cloud element simultaneously from below, above, and inside the cloud; i.e., to measure how much aerosol is being transported to the cloud from below and from above; to measure how the cloud drop number density as a function of drop radius is changing in response to the injection of aerosols; and, finally, to observe how the cloud albedo, in-cloud solar absorption, and the transmission of solar radiation through the cloud to the cloud base is responding to the change in cloud microphysical properties. Such a synchronized view of clouds has not been accomplished thus far. The particular emphasis of MAC is to demonstrate that lightweight AUAVs can fill an important and vital gap in our measurement capability by simultaneously sampling cloudy layers from all sides. The fundamental science objective of MAC is to provide new insights into how aerosols and clouds regulate the planetary albedo, with particular emphasis on how anthropogenic aerosols are modifying the albedo of cloudy skies (the so-called "indirect effect"). MAC also will be able to estimate solar absorption by clouds and to measure the dependence of that absorption on the amount of absorbing aerosols. MAC will provide direct measurements of cloud and aerosol microphysical properties and radiation fluxes by using coordinated flights of three AUAVs. Broader impacts. If successful, MAC will demonstrate that AUAVs are a relatively inexpensive, reliable instrument platform for observing synchronously, fast interactive processes, e.g., cloud and aerosol microphysics and feedbacks, in multi-dimensional space. MAC will provide climate scientists with a valuable data set for studying what is considered to be a major area of uncertainty in climate change research and projections. A student will be trained in field campaign operations and research. NOAA and NASA are co-supporting MAC, which is a project coordinated through the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.