New Miniature Instrumentation for Measurements in Polar Mixed-Phase Clouds using UAV’s and TBS

Description

The dramatic warming in the Arctic, a rate which is nearly twice the global average, is now well documented. Mixed-phase clouds predominate from spring through early winter in the Arctic and exhibit a particularly strong nonlinear influence on the surface energy budget in the Arctic. Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) and tethered balloon systems (TBS) offer significant advantages over conventional research aircraft. SPEC Inc. has designed and fabricated a unique sensor that combines three optical cloud particle probes in a small, lightweight (3 kg) instrument that can be installed on small UAV’s and TBS. The miniature combination optical particle probe (micro-COPP) measures the size distribution of cloud particles from 2 microns to several millimeters and records high-definition images that distinguish ice particles from water drops, which is essential in mixed-phase clouds. The micro-COPP will be installed along with miniature instruments to measure aerosols, cloud condensation nuclei, ice nuclei, position and atmospheric state parameters on a TBS and small UAV that will participate in a pilot project in the Arctic in late 2017 – early 2018. Collected data will be placed in the DOE archives and analyzed by company scientists and university subcontractors. Anticipated results include improved radiative transfer retrievals and models.