06 February 2015, Météo France
Drones have serious advantages for studying the atmosphere: they are
able to fly up to a few kilometres altitude and can be directed as
required. Researchers at Météo France have recently conducted a test campaign at Atmospheric
Research Centre (CRA) of Labotratoire d'Aérologie / Observatoire
Midi-Pyrénées, in collaboration with the National Civil Aviation School
(ENAC).
The objective: to test under real weather conditions the miniaturised sensors
that will equip the drones in a planned measurement campaign on Cyprus in this spring.
A technological challenge
The size of the sensors available on the market have, so far, not been suitable
for integration on small-sized aircraft, and have limited the use of
mini-drones to the simples measurements such as temperature, humidity, and
pressure. The work of the GMEI (Groupe de recherche en Météorologie
Expérimentale et Instrumentale) research group of Météo France now offers new
possibilities in this area. For the purposes of the European Project BACCHUS*,
which aims to study the role of aerosols in climate change, researchers at
Météo France have equipped mini-drones with different miniaturised sensor types
(particle counters, 3D wind vectors, etc.) for the first time.
Instrument tests in real conditions
The instruments were tested for three days at the CRA site at
Lannemezan. The site was chosen for its infrastructure that allows validating
the sensors on the drones, as well as access to the restricted, civilian
airspace. Fifteen flights were made up to 2000 metres above sea level and
within a 1.5 km radius. These tests were conducted to make final adjustments to
the intruments before the first measurement campaign of the BACCHUS project,
which will take place in Cyprus in March.
* The BACCHUS project (Impact of Biogenic versus Anthropogenic Emissions on
Clouds and Climate: towards a Holistic Understanding) brings together twenty
European laboratories.
See the original French article at
http://www.meteofrance.fr/actualites/22577295-des-mini-drones-pour-la-recherche-en-meteorlogie
