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Direct Observations of Surface Fluxes and Air‐Sea Exchange Coefficients in Low Winds Using a Small Uncrewed Aircraft System

Journal Article · · Earth and Space Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004305· OSTI ID:2587032
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [4]
  1. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL (United States)
  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Miami, FL (United States); University of Miami, FL (United States)
  3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Miami, FL (United States)
  4. Black Swift Technologies, Boulder, CO (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
In the marine boundary layer, the exchange of momentum, heat, and moisture occurs between the atmosphere and ocean. Since it is too dangerous for a crewed aircraft to fly close to the ocean surface to directly obtain these measurements, a sUAS (small Uncrewed Aircraft System) is one of the only viable options. On 24 March 2023 a Black Swift Technologies S0 sUAS was deployed from the NOAA P-3 on a calm clear day off the west coast of Florida. For 23 min at the end of the mission, the sUAS flew 8 straight line legs with an average length of 2.15 km, at roughly 10 m above the ocean surface, with wind speeds between 3.0 and 4.5 m s−1. For the first time over the open ocean using a sUAS, the 4-Hz wind and thermodynamic data was used to calculate surface momentum flux, sensible heat flux, and latent flux using both direct covariance methods and the bulk aerodynamic formulas. Since all the flux quantities can be found using both direct and indirect methods, we are able to calculate the exchange coefficients of momentum flux (CD), latent heat flux (CE), and sensible heat flux (CH) with results that are generally in good agreement with previous studies over the same wind speed range. This study demonstrates the ability of sUAS to measure air-sea interactions. Future intention is to use sUAS to obtain similar measurements in high wind events such as hurricanes which could better help understand hurricane intensification and improve model physics.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center
Sponsoring Organization:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Science Foundation (NSF); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2587032
Journal Information:
Earth and Space Science, Journal Name: Earth and Space Science Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 12; ISSN 2333-5084
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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