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Experience of Studying the Turbulent Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

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Abstract

The growing relevance of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for studying turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is associated with the need to obtain new observational data at different heights in the boundary layer, as well as over heterogeneous landscapes. Such new data is needed for developing turbulence models for spatially inhomogeneous and unsteady conditions. This paper describes the new Tsimlyanin UAV and its meteorological payload, developed specifically for studying the turbulent structure of the ABL. Tsimlyanin differs from similar vehicles by its hybrid scheme, which combines the possibility of vertical take-off and landing and horizontal flight in airplane mode. The meteorological payload includes specially designed measuring devices, namely, a multihole air pressure probe and a low-inertia resistance thermometer. Also, analog-to-digital converters for several sensors, as well as the onboard data-acquisition system, are newly developed. This paper presents the results of measurements carried out using the UAV during test flights in Tsimlyansk in August 2020. A good agreement between UAV observations with respect to vertical profiles of air temperature, wind speed and direction, dispersion of vertical speed with the data of observations of other complexes (acoustic anemometers, an automatic meteorological station, sodars, and a temperature profiler) was obtained. The results demonstrate the high potential of this UAV for studying turbulence in the ABL.

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Funding

The development of the Tsimlyanin and its measuring complex was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 18-77-10072; analyzed measurement data and written data-processing algorithms were supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 21-17-00249. Measurements using the LATAN-3 sodar and data processing were supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, grant no. 19-05-01008 and by the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 21-17-00021.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    D. G. Chechin, A. Yu. Artamonov, D. V. Zaytseva, D. D. Kouznetsov & A. A. Shestakova

  2. Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), 125993, Moscow, Russia

    N. E. Bodunkov, M. Yu. Kalyagin & A. A. Kounashouk

  3. Central Aerological Observatory, 141700, Dolgoprudniy, Russia

    D. N. Zhivoglotov

  4. Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Siberian Bracnh, Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    A. M. Shevchenko

Authors
  1. D. G. Chechin
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  2. A. Yu. Artamonov
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  3. N. E. Bodunkov
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  4. D. N. Zhivoglotov
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  5. D. V. Zaytseva
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  6. M. Yu. Kalyagin
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  7. D. D. Kouznetsov
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  8. A. A. Kounashouk
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  9. A. M. Shevchenko
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  10. A. A. Shestakova
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. G. Chechin.

Additional information

The paper was prepared based on an oral report presented at the All-Russia Conference on Turbulence, Dynamics of Atmosphere and Climate dedicated to the memory of Academician A.M. Obukhov (Moscow, November 10–12, 2020).

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Chechin, D.G., Artamonov, A.Y., Bodunkov, N.E. et al. Experience of Studying the Turbulent Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Izv. Atmos. Ocean. Phys. 57, 526–532 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821050042

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0001433821050042

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