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Title: An optical water vapor sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

The water vapor sensor developed by Aerodyne Research, based on the optical absorption of light at {approximately}935 nm, has been successfully demonstrated on board the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Gulfstream-1 research aircraft during the Department of Energy's ARM Intensive Operations Period in August 1998. Data taken during this field campaign show excellent agreement with a chilled mirror and Lyman-alpha hygrometers and measurements confirm the ability to measure rapid, absolute water vapor fluctuations with a high degree of instrument stability and accuracy, with a noise level as low 10 ppmv (1 Hz measurement bandwidth). The construction of this small, lightweight sensor contains several unique elements which result in several significant advantages when compared to other techniques. First, the low power consumption Argon discharge lamp provides an optical beam at a fixed wavelength without a need for temperature or precision current control. The multi-pass absorption cell developed for this instrument provides a compact, low cost method that can survive deployment in the field. Fiber-optic cables, which are used to convey to light between the absorption cell, light source, and detection modules enable remote placement of the absorption cell from the opto-electronics module. Finally, the sensor does not use any moving parts whichmore » removes a significant source of potential malfunction. The result is an instrument which maintained its calibration throughout the field measurement campaign, and was not affected by high vibration and large uncontrolled temperature excursions. We believe that the development of an accurate, fast response water vapor monitor described in this report will open up new avenues of aerial-vehicle-based atmospheric research which have been relatively unexplored due to the lack of suitable low-cost, light-weight instrumentation.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
762245
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/81915
TRN: AH200123%%149
DOE Contract Number:  
FG02-95ER81915
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Dec 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; DESIGN; PERFORMANCE; ABSORPTION; AIRCRAFT; MONITORS; WATER VAPOR; ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Berkoff, Timothy A, Kebabian, Paul L, McClatchy, Robert A, Kolb, Charles E, and Freedman, Andrew. An optical water vapor sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles. United States: N. p., 1998. Web. doi:10.2172/762245.
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Berkoff, Timothy A, Kebabian, Paul L, McClatchy, Robert A, Kolb, Charles E, & Freedman, Andrew. An optical water vapor sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/762245
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Berkoff, Timothy A, Kebabian, Paul L, McClatchy, Robert A, Kolb, Charles E, and Freedman, Andrew. 1998. "An optical water vapor sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/762245. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/762245.
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@article{osti_762245,
title = {An optical water vapor sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles},
author = {Berkoff, Timothy A and Kebabian, Paul L and McClatchy, Robert A and Kolb, Charles E and Freedman, Andrew},
abstractNote = {The water vapor sensor developed by Aerodyne Research, based on the optical absorption of light at {approximately}935 nm, has been successfully demonstrated on board the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Gulfstream-1 research aircraft during the Department of Energy's ARM Intensive Operations Period in August 1998. Data taken during this field campaign show excellent agreement with a chilled mirror and Lyman-alpha hygrometers and measurements confirm the ability to measure rapid, absolute water vapor fluctuations with a high degree of instrument stability and accuracy, with a noise level as low 10 ppmv (1 Hz measurement bandwidth). The construction of this small, lightweight sensor contains several unique elements which result in several significant advantages when compared to other techniques. First, the low power consumption Argon discharge lamp provides an optical beam at a fixed wavelength without a need for temperature or precision current control. The multi-pass absorption cell developed for this instrument provides a compact, low cost method that can survive deployment in the field. Fiber-optic cables, which are used to convey to light between the absorption cell, light source, and detection modules enable remote placement of the absorption cell from the opto-electronics module. Finally, the sensor does not use any moving parts which removes a significant source of potential malfunction. The result is an instrument which maintained its calibration throughout the field measurement campaign, and was not affected by high vibration and large uncontrolled temperature excursions. We believe that the development of an accurate, fast response water vapor monitor described in this report will open up new avenues of aerial-vehicle-based atmospheric research which have been relatively unexplored due to the lack of suitable low-cost, light-weight instrumentation.},
doi = {10.2172/762245},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/762245}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (3.23 MB)
https://doi.org/10.2172/762245
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