utilization of uav’s for global climate change research workshop 2 – boulder, colorado –...

Utilization of UAV’s for Global Climate Change ResearchWorkshop 2 – Boulder, Colorado – December 7-8, 2004

1

UTILIZATION OF UAV’s FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH

A Summary and Synthesis of Workshop 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview Page 2Draft Vision Statement Page 3Missions: Overview Page 4Missions: Climate Page 5Missions: Land & Ocean Surface Page 7Missions: Global Observations 0Missions: Atmospheric Observations Page 13Technology: Overview Page 16Technology: Platforms Page 17Technology: Instrumentation Page 22Technology: Operations Page 27Technology: Data and Communications Page 29Gaps, Roadmaps & Vision: Overview Page 31Gaps & Roadmaps Page 32Ideas for Joint NASA/NOAA/DOE Programs Page 35Ideas for Innovative UAV Uses Page 36UAV-Enabled Global Observation System Page 37Ideas for Next Steps Page 38


2

Overview

What we have in common forms the basis of our collaboration - the focus on the goals developed in our first workshop in San Diego. From there, there is no limit to what we can do.

On December 7th and 8th, 2004, DOC/NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL), NASA Science and Aeronautics Research Mission Directorates, and DOE Office of Science sponsored the second in a series of workshops on the Utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Global Climate Change Research. Participants from NASA, NOAA, and the Department of Energy gathered together with researchers, scientists, engineers and industry representatives to build upon the work completed in the first workshop.

This session began with a series of presentations about the program objectives of the three agencies, about the requirements for a research program, and about the current capabilities of UAVs. The group then became familiar with the 11 science goals developed in the first workshop. Participants expanded upon these missions, clarifying the observations needed for each as well as when and where these observations would need to take place.

The group then looked at the technology and operations as well as the gaps and roadmaps needed to realize these goals. Finally we used a current NASA RFI document to drive some of the groups to put an outline together for a few of the goals while other groups looked at the next steps in the collaboration to move the group to realizing the objective of a global climate change observation system.

This document is a summary of the group’s work.


3

Draft Vision Statement

Elements of a Mission Statement• Economy and Early Warning (Climate)• Fill Critical Gaps in Earth Observing System• UAV Critical Role in Integrated Global Observing System

(enabler and integrator)• US Leadership (opportunity to lead in aerospace and global

observation)• UAV’s as Available Capability for Monitoring• UAV’s can Deliver Unique Scientific Measurements• Magnify the Value of Existing Investments (satellites)

Proposed Presentation Format for NASA/NOAA/DOE Collaboration

Why is this important?• Vision: Drawn from CCSP, GEOSS, IEOS, IORS, USCOP• Examples: Arctic, Hurricane Tracking and Prediction• Compelling, visceral story that motivates the important of

climate change and prediction

How can we make a difference?• Consistent with current administration climate thrust (but not

uniquely linked to this administration)• Magnify value of current investments (satellites, piloted

platforms, ground observations)• Address gaps in current capabilities (examples…)• Provide new and unique capabilities (examples…)• Current agencies’ programs and opportunities for

collaboration and efficiency

How much will it cost?• We will need to have some estimate of the cost and

benefits from the proposed collaboration.

“UAV’s bridge the gap between Earth and space to understand and protect our planet.”


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Missions: Overview

ContextIn the first round of work, groups reviewed the focus areas identified in the first workshop: Climate, Land & Ocean Surface, Global Observations, and Atmospheric Observations. Out of these groups, small teams then delved into the science goals that had been defined under each focus area. For each science goal, the teams were asked to define what needed to be measured, when it needed to be measure, how often and for how long?


5

Missions: Climate I of II

We want to make any use of UAVs with anything that's already in existence in addition to using the first 3 ARM sites. We agreed 20 km is critical to the measurements we want. We'd like to see 5 flight days taking place in each location for each of the 4 seasons. The flight days should be spread out over a few weeks. We designed our dream suite of instruments. We got into an interesting discussion about accuracy. We agreed that we could address more science if any of the instruments were improved upon. We agreed that we could have progress in all these areas by adding to the instrument suite that was previously designed. We can do work in urban areas as well as in albedos.

Forcings: solar, CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs, O3

Feedbacks: clouds, H2O(v), albedo, aerosols, oceans, O3

Unique Requirements: insitu, sustained, systematic, diurnal, over

oceans

Integration with: ARM networks, satellites, models, ocean observing,

radiosonde, lidar

Spatial: ARM—arctic, mid-continent -100km + flexibility (access to

remote regions); Up to 20km (up and down to surface

Temporal: diurnal - min. 5/flight days across 3 weeks; full seasonal 4

times per year; simultaneity

Instruments: H2O(v) insitu; TP; B.B. SW+LW; Particle Probe; Radar

(particle reflectivity); Lidar (small particle reflectivity); Microwave

radiometer (profiles); Infra-red spectrometer; Wind lidar; Dropsondes

(GPS, T,P,W); Electrification (field probes) mid-latitude

Special Cases: aerosols - urban volcanoes; albedo - polar

Priorities: clouds, H2O, aerosols, albedo

Science Goal: Understand and quantify sensitivities of climate to forcings and feedbacks.


6

Missions: Climate II of II

We looked at where UAVs would have the most impact. We tried to understand processes and thought the most utility here would be closer to the boundary layer. We would understand how things get into the troposphere. There's a list of potential campaigns in the short-term, over the next 5 years. We would focus on the Amazon, the southern ocean, and the ARM sites, as well as a couple of sites listed here. This all led us to a possible campaign is this unknown source of methane. It's not confounded by large diurnal cycles. We didn't get very far in the 'When' and 'How Often' categories. We did talk about the North America campaign and we'd like to get involved in some intensive campaign.

Observations Required

Where? UAV Observations

When? How Often?

Condintions of:

CO2, CO, CH4, O2, in ? layer

-land cover/land use change-- surface temperature (ocean/land)-- winds-- ocean color-- atmospheric temperature-- fossil sources-- parameters controlling photosynthesis-- soil moisture-- snow, ice, water coverage

-- CO2 (drop buoys)

-regional - continental scale - over ocean and land-- vertical profiles (0-5km)-- Amazon biogeochemistry (? CH4)

-- Southern ocean (south pacific)-- 3 ARM sites-Eastern pacific Upwelling Zones-- Arctic freeze/thaw line (Barrow ARM site)

-- Regional CH4 campaign — Amazon, Tundra, Aglands (ie rice), Geologic(?)-- Fossil source campaign (?)

Diurnal - monthly - seasonal

Sat. overpasses

Rationale: CH4 is easier to measure than CO2; UAVs can help in process studies; less natural variability; CH4 strong CHC; shorter residenc time /nd

Science Goal: Sources and sinks of CO2 & methane (quantify and locate natural and anthropogenic)

• UAVs coordinated with surface and orbital assets and models

• UAVs alone


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Missions: Land & Ocean Surface I of IIIScience Goal: How is the biosphere changing?

Types of Measurements When Where

1. Multispectral (imaging) 1-20km

2. Hyperspectral sometimes (imaging) 1-20km

3. Florescense high resolution (temp/sp) triggered 200m

4. In-situ fluxes 30m

5. DiAL 30m - 10km

6. Laser (dobbler) for wind 30m - 10km

7. Soil moisture u-wave (passive/active) 3-20km

1. Triggered episodic meas (minit?)

2. Scheduled eposodic (seasonal/annual) cal / val

3. Diurnal (fluxes, Ocean Bio)

4.

1. Keep track of interfaces (coastal zone; forest/tundra; sky Islands (desert sandstorms); altitude change; irrigated vs. arid; surface ocean temperature;

GPP, DOC, turbidity

Coral blocking

Wetlands extent / change

What Where When/how often/ duration/ synchrony

Land use / land cover interface

Global All year / seasonally / range to target) close to satellite pass (cal/val)

Ecosystem condition Specific ecosystems worldwide Diurnal to seasonal (many synchronous measurements) (intensive observation period simplified for monitoring)

All seasons

Event - triggered Location of event (global reach) stressor, transport, receptors)

Event duration (multi-parameter)

Response time important

Maybe pre-event if forecast


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Missions: Land & Ocean Surface II of IIIScience Goal: Decrease uncertainties in models (CO2 emission regions; CH4 emission regions)

Understanding processes (regional variability; short-term variation)

What: CO2; H2O; CH4

From this: regions explored - typical for validation; extremes for exploration

Observation Strategy: define boundary layer (ocean, land, smooth, rough, wind speed)

Technology development: miniaturization; multiple sondes (or mini-UAVs); mini-gliders?

Fundamental Issues: intermediate scale between satellite and high flying aircraft and jeep; work on natural laboratories (investigator-driver)

The gas emissions from the surface have reactions to the climate change. How does the natural emission of CO2 change in response to the climate change? Is it positive or negative feedback?

One of the things you want to do is have prediction of these processes. There are already models that can do this and we want to decrease the uncertainties in these models. We want to pick areas that are particularly sensitive to change.

We agreed that understanding the processes are important for understanding the scale. What you see from satellites is what is really happening. To understand the detail, UAVs play a very important role. The regions typical for validation are where we want to start. The fundamental issues that emerge from our discussion is that we need the intermediate scale between satellite and aircraft so we can fill in the gaps of the picture we have right now. We're looking for natural laboratories where we can do investigative work to improve our understanding of the processes.


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Missions: Land & Ocean Surface III of IIIScience Goal: Characterization (shifts/changes) of frozen part (cryosphere) of water cycle earth surface (ocean & land) in response to climate change

Objectives: Trending (baseline) - total frozen reservoir (global/annual change/regional); Measure surface area, depth, density; Understanding response & feedback (energy cycle - solar + current and drivers); Focus on bellweather areas (visually/active areas - reasonable time space - high rate of change)

Cry

osp

he

re

Observations

• Sea ice - arctic/antarctic (moderate variability) (5–10% of ocean)

• Glacier - mountains/coastal (least variable)

• Snow fields/pack - mountains (highly variable)

• Perma frost (frozen soil moisture) - interface to biology

Topic Position Altitude When How often Duration Coverage/resolution

Sea Ice Arctic/antarctic

(polar)

Sea Level Seasonal (summer/winter) to monthly

Monthly FLT tracks

(Re TBD)

Continental scale - 1km

Glacier (moves) Mountains (high latitude)

Mountain top (20k feet+)

Seasonal

(21cm /year)

Monthly (year/decade)

FLT tracks

(Re TBD)

100m

Snow field (fixed) Mountains (high latitude)

Mountain top

(20k feet)

Annual

(thorough)?

Annual FLT tracks

(Re TBD)

100km

Snow pack (melts annually)

Mountains Mountain top Seasonally Weekly 1km

Here is a pathway where we think about how UAVs play into the mix. We suggest that UAVs be in areas where we need frequent repeats and high resolution. We think that UAVs will need long duration. They don't particularly high altitude. We'll need to get into understanding of what drives the changes we see. We need surface area depth and density.


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Missions: Global Observation I of III

Measurements Required

Where should they be taken?

When? Frequency? Duration? Taken simultaneously?

State variables

T, u, V, q, (p), (h)

Fill in data voids

Adaptively observed

Event driven contingency

Ongoing

1-5 days as required

Up to 60 minutes notice as required

Routine

Model driven

Event driven

On-going

hours - 1 day

mins - hours

(BCWST)

Best coincide with synoptic time

Cloud properties (callibrate satellite & radar)

Liquid/ice concentrations

Calibration for real time system (CORTS) -

possibly operational

IOP Intense observations periods

Correlated with other measurements I.e. radar, satellite

UAV swarms during IOPs

Precipitation CORTS

Land surface CORTS

Ocean surface properties

CORTS (long)

Ice properties CORTS

Aerosols CORTS

Events

O3 - as an indicator of P.V.

CORTS

Events

Science Goal: Improve high impact weather forecasts

UAV Altitude (ft)

Fo

reca

st Im

pro

vem

ent

Co

st

20k 40k 60k

Altitude Sensor & Mission Dependant

We came up with the idea of CORTS. This stands for calibration for real time system. Using UAVs help in research mode to generate algorithms to calculate things like ice fluxes. You're using a UAV to calibrate a remotely sensed object, like radar and satellite to spread the knowledge over a wider area. You do that within an intensive observation period. This is not just for one UAV, but also for a swarm of them.


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Missions: Global Observation II of III

We're looking to put 200-400 global station points as a good start. We talked about having them above the surface. We see them at 300 m intervals above the surface. There is a special case of aerosols. It probably would be more concentrated in industrial areas.

We talked about what kind of time resolution and we had a goal of taking 8 measurements a day and could cover the diurnal cycles.

We felt the UAVs offer a lot to this kinds of system, especially in the vertical measurements. It might take 4 years to do a demo phase to put this system together. We're planning the system for five years from now.

Science Goal: Improve prediction of climate variability and change

Where What When

State: •Tropopause to surface

–Including boundary layer•300m intervals

–30m for B.L.•Pseudo-distribution

(200 - 400 points)

State parameters (time and geospatial)

Temperature, pressure, (water vapor)

•Pseudo-random, diurnal seasonal•Goal - 8/day - 1/wk•Duration: 4yr minimum (demo) - multi-decade (operations)

Below cloud cover

Satellite queing

Industrial regions (200 point geo)

Courser sampling (100m - 500m

Aerosols: optical profiles/profile scattering

Need to capture effects of aerosols on clouds/ precipitation (particle size, distribution, macro view

Trace gases: O3, CH4, CO2 ( 1ppm accuracy)

Water vapor: upper tropospheric measurement

Clouds: life cycle, coverage, optical depth, albedo/reflectivity, vertical profile

•(start) revisit every 72 hours every grid point

•For clouds diurnal in the tropics

UAV roles:•Anchoring satellite measurements•Gap filling

Gaps:•Atmospheric only•Radiative budget (longwave, shortwave)•Correlation with modelers and instruments in 5 years

• resolution• distribution• regions

• sustained• weekly updates for verified profiles• hourly for cloud

• seasonal variability


12

Missions: Global Observation III of III

We want UAVs which can fly long distances, which preclude manned missions. Mars covers thousands of kilometers in range. The vertical question is important to that extent we're looking at something like 50 millibars in resolution to go after the aerosol question.

We want to do that over time for about 10 years. In the Pacific, we'd still be going for vertical movement over long spatial scales.

Science Goal: Critical physical processes: storms, climate change trends

What? Where? When? Why?/Why UAV?

Info for global climate models

Precipitation

Winds

2008/2015

Diurnals 12 months

Continuous - need (10) cycles

Small scale measurements

Long platforms

Long distance

Everything Everywhere All the time

Aerosols - in situ

Clouds

Radiation(short/long)

Temperature/time

H2O

CO2

O3

UAV

Geo sat tracks

Arctic

2008 2018

10km - s awe place10km - lead2008

Pacific

Next

Warm pool - N. of Australia

Merging of data

Why not now?

sensors

Data systems

1000’s km

Transects100m scale

=OP -50mb

2008 2009

uAV

2x day / 10yrst,x

Need to reduce risk to instrument? Cost of ???

curtain


13

Missions: Atmospheric Observation I of IIIScience Goal: Quantify change in the chemical composition of the atmosphere

What Observed Where?

Lat Alt

When? How Often? Duration? Taken simultaneously?

Air quality

(surface to BL)

Midlat 0-40k ft All year Daily

Hourly events

Strataspheric Ozone

Polar tropopause

Midlat -> 30km

Tropics

All seasons Weekly Profile No

Tropospheric Ozone

Polar tropopause

Midlat remote &

Tropics polluted

All seasons - daily Profile

Dial

No

Long-lived gases

C02, CH4, N20

Herb? - HFCs

Polar surface

Midlat lower strat

Tropics (25km)


Water vapor Polar upper trop

Midlat lower strat

Tropics


Reactive gases

NOx, SOx, CO

Polar surface

Midlat lower strat

Tropics

State variables

Highly reactive

OH, HO2, NO, NO2

Polar polluted &

Midlat remote trop

Tropics

All seasons intermittent

Aerosol size, number, composition

Polar polluted &

Midlat remote trop

Tropics

All seasons Daily - weekly Profiles No

Radioactive fluxes Polar upper trop

Midlat lower strat

Tropics

All seasons intermittent Profiles No


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Missions: Atmospheric Observation II of III

Possibly using dropsondes to create profiles to measure the chemical in the atmosphere. There is a whole different chemistry in carbonaceous aerosols. These could be distributed in a number of platforms. This could be focused around the boundary layer.

The last group included aerosols like volcanic eruptions. Again, for these we need to get in close to the source, so of course the UAVs will be key. These would be smaller UAVs.

Observation Location Temporal Simultaneous Instruments

Marine

S

Coastal margin

I.TC2 - Tropical

Routine monitoring

Weekly

Profiles Mass spec spectrometers

Isotopes

Urban

C

Industrial (localized)

20-60k ft profiles (mixed layer)

Routine

Weekly

Lidar(s)

Doplar lidar

Events

S

C

Localized

60k ft profiles

Episodic (on demand)

Dropsondes

Science Goal: Figure out the role of aerosols in global warming

• volcanoes• wildfires• dust


15

Missions: Atmospheric Observation III of III

We subdivided the topic into three major areas. We subdivided even further under one of these. We expanded the scope of it a bit. The blue comments are from the initial discussion. The red comments are about the instruments. The green comments are from visitors who came by. We appreciate those and tried to incorporate them as much as possible.

Science Goal: Role of water vapor & cloud-radiative feedback (predictability and climate control)

What? Where? When? How Often? Duration? Simultaneous? How? (instrument)

H2O Concentration•Ice•Mixed phase•Liquid•Water vapor/flux

Vert: Surf to lower strat (20km)

Horiz: Everywhere conc. on oceanic

Uniform sample + targeted observation (e.g. monsoon)

6 hour sampling (background)

1 hour (event driven)

Storm: week

Climate: long duration profiling (12-24 hrs)

Temp; U, V, W,

Turbulence;

Pressure

Mixing ratio (2%)

(laser hygrometer)

All-weather carole (king)

Cloud Characterization•Cloud extent•Cloud types•Microphysical properties

•Cloud profiles (temp, phase)

•global (%cover) 10’s of km•Subgrid scale (1km) (10’s m u physics

•Cloud (10’s of meters)

Uniform sample + targeted observation

6 hour sampling

1 hour (event driven)

•Days to week•Frequent measurements over extended time period•Spacial sampling over a long path

Temp; U, V, W,

Turbulence;

Pressure

UAV: help to bridge between more extensive radar and satellites

Satellite obs

In situ

Remote sensors

- radar

- lidar

All weather capable

(instrument miniatures & power c?)

Cloud radiometric properties

Representative cloud types

Above and below clouds

Periodic

(seasonal)

Sample life cycle of cloud type

Same

Satellite and surface measurements

Broadband & specially resolved vis & IR

(radiance and irradiance)

Satellite

H2O & winds

cal/val

Global

Via focused UAV observations

Periodic

(seasonal)

IOP Hours to days Satellite observations

(as above)

INS/GPS

Laser/hygro

(INS/GPS)(BAT)

(0.1C accuracy)

(% cloud cover - might not be adequate characterization)


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Technology: Overview

ContextIn the next round of work, each team pored over the science goals defined in the morning to discover the requirements for a specific technology: Platforms, Instrumentation, Operations and Data & Communications.

AssignmentLook across the science goals and each observation (there may be several observations within each goal), and identify any solutions that may be required for the technology that you have been assigned. Also note any special capabilities or properties needed. Finally, identify/document any assumptions you’ve made.


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Technology – High Altitude Platform

IssuesPerformance• 40,000ft +• Ceiling• Vertical Profiling• Payload (mass, volume, power)• Range• Endurance• Cruise Speed• Payload Environment (stability, thermal,

vibration)Lifecycle CostDeployability – no significant runway limitationsOperability• All Weather

•Icing•Turbulence•Crosswinds (landing and take off)

• Autonomy• Global Airspace• Over-the-Horizon Command & Control• Reliability (MTBF > 20-50k hours)Environmental - propulsion

State of the ArtGlobal Hawk 60,000 ft 36 hoursAltair 50,000 ft 32 hours

Innovative ConceptsHelios 100,000 ft 12 hours –

weekZephyr 50-100k ft weeks - months


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Technology – High Altitude Platform

Missions Altitude Endurance Repetition P/L Speed

Clim

ate

Sensitivity to Forcings

20km 24 hours

CO2 Sources & Sinks 24 hours

Atm

os

ph

eric

Chemical Composition

30km Week-months

Role of Aerosols 18.5km

Water Vapor & Cloud Radiative Feedback

20km 24 hours – week

Stable platform

<100 knots

Glo

ba

l

Climate Variability & Change

Surface – 20km

Week-months 72 hours “Dropsonde” class

Long range

High Impact Weather Forecasts

“DASN & Loiter”?

Critical Physical Processes

Oc

ea

n &

La

nd

S

urfa

ce

Models & Predictions 20km 24 hours

Cryosphere Responsive Feedback

N/A

Gas

= Capability unique to UAV’s


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Technology – Mid-Altitude PlatformAssumptions• 25,000-30,000 ft• Can use heavier instrument suites• Robust• Dropsondes critical capability• Quick-look data• Multi-use or tailoredOthers• Rapid response• Loitering• Cal/Val• Gap filling

General Capabilities Needed

UAV-Unique• Robustness for turbulence• Long endurance – trans-oceanic & loiteringFlight Characteristics• Structure similar to regional aircraft• Slow speed & high resolutionCommand & Control• Distributed basing for global coverage• “Over the horizon” communicationsPayload• Large & reconfigurable (i.e. antennae)• Variable size for specific missions• Tailored aircraft specific to mission & grid

Missons

High Impact Weather• Autonomy

• Tailored mission• Quick-look data is key here• Diurnal fire monitoring

• Command & Control – rapid responseAtmospheric Composition• Flight characteristics – variable short/fast

climb rateCryosphere• Flight characteristics – de-icing for

polar/cold environments


20

Technology – Low Altitude PlatformMissions < 25,000 ft Existing

PlatformFlight Char- acteristics

Command & Control

Endurance Range

Clim

ate

Sensitivity to Forcings P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

LDS, Satellites & Autonomous

5 days for

3 weeks

1000 km

CO2 Sources & Sinks P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

Ship Launch, Vertical Profiling


Up to many diurnal cycles

Process – 100’s of km

Monitoring – 1000’s of km

Atm

os

ph

eric

Chemical Composition P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

Vertical Profiling LDS, Satellites & Autonomous




Role of Aerosols P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

Vertical Profiling LDS, Satellites & Autonomous





P-3, Twin Otter, C-130





Glo

ba

l

Climate Variability & Change P-3, Twin Otter, C-130







Radiosonde

Ship Launch LDS, Satellites & Autonomous




Critical Physical Processes P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

Hand Launch LDS, Satellites & Autonomous

5 days for

3 weeks

1000 km

Oc

ea

n &

La

nd

S

urfa

ce

Models & Predictions P-3, Twin Otter, C-130

Ships, Buoys


5 days for

3 weeks

1000 km




5 days for

3 weeks

1000 km

Gas

= Capability unique to UAV’s


21

Technology – Low Altitude PlatformMissions < 25,000 ft Payload Autonomy Multi-use vs.

Unique MissionCoverage Issues

Data Storage

Clim

ate

Sensitivity to Forcings Small-to-large scale

In situ & remote

Stringent Operation Procedures

Standardization Short & long ranges

Large Capacity

CO2 Sources & Sinks Operation in NAS System

Multi-use

Atm

os

ph

eri

c

Chemical Composition Stringent Operation Procedures

Standardization

Role of Aerosols


Glo

ba

l

Climate Variability & Change


Critical Physical Processes

Oc

ea

n &

La

nd

S

urfa

ce

Models & Predictions


Gas

Interfaces: Other systems; Vehicles (formation flying & mother/daughter); platforms, instruments, ground systems, science systems


22

Technology – Remote Sensing InstrumentationFocus Areas

Measures

Climate,

Atmospheric, & Global

Aerosols < 100m(?)

(OD, SSA, Size, Distance, Concentration, Composition)

Trace Gasses – Vertical + Column

(CO2, CH4, O3, H2O, N2O CFC’s, gradients in flux)

Clouds > 100m(?)

(OD, particle microphysics, cloud state variables)

State Variables

(T, W, P, RH)

Radiation

(Albedo, flux)

H2O

(Gas profiles, rain)

Ocean & Land Surface

Ice – SA, Depth, Density

Vegetation Type - % land cover

Coastal T, NPP, DPC, TSS

Sea Salinity, Soil Moisture

Remote Sensors

Passive

Hyperspectral – multi-angle, polarmetric spectrometer (aerosol properties)

Narrow band radiometer? (CO2?)

Hyperspectral Spectrometer (ocean color, vegetation type)

Active

Lidar

Infrared – H2O, CO2, Winds

Visible – clouds, ice surface, aerosols, ocean color, canopy structure

UV – O3, winds

Radar

Measurable – atmospheric ice (?)

S Band – Precipitation

C, Ka, L, P Band – ice sheets, canopy levels

Long-wave – ice depth

Doppler – cloud structure

Laser

(pemp probe?)

Chlorophyll, vegetation stress (?)


23

Technology – Remote Sensing Instrumentation

UAV ? Mission Design Issues• Cloud, aerosol and gas issues cannot likely be completely address by

remote sensors. (Ocean and land issues probably can.) We need to device a coordinated fleet mission.

• Passive sensors are typically small mass/volume – they can use HALE

• Active sensors are typically larger mass/volume. Most science questions requiring active remote sensors do not need high altitude – they can use LALE or MALE)


24

Technology – In Situ Instrumentation

Gas C

hrometograph

Mass S

pectrometer

Spectom

etry (Optical)

Ion Mobility S

pectrometer

Microeletcrom

agnetical S

ensors

Intertial Navigation/P

itot Tube

Filtering/ P

hysical Collection

Radiom

eters

Cloud M

icrophysics Sensors

Nephelom

eters

Imagers

Extratom

eter (??)

Evaporative H

eating/ Cooling

FS

SP

Cryogenic/ C

hilled Mirror

Cavity R

ingdown

Spectrom

eter

Aerosol H

ydration/ Vox

Field M

ills

Dropsondes

Various Chemical Species

X X X X X X ?

Water Vapor/ RH X X X X X

Aerosols X X X X X X X X X X

Temperature & Pressure X X

Cloud Microphysics & Properties

X X X X X X X

Winds & Turbulence X X X

Radiative Field

Isotopes X X

Electric Field X

# of sensors is application-dependant. Sensor type is UAV Platform-dependant.

Sam

ple

d I

tem

s

Instruments Required for Physical Sampling


25

Technology – In Situ Instrumentation (Adaptation I of II)

Gas C

hrometograph

Mass S

pectrometer

Spectom

etry (Optical)

Ion Mobility S

pectrometer

Microeletcrom

agnetical S

ensors


itot Tube

Filtering/ P

hysical Collection

Radiom

eters

Cloud M

icrophysics Sensors

Nephelom

eters

Imagers

Extratom

eter (??)

Evaporative H

eating/ Cooling

FS

SP

Cryogenic/ C

hilled Mirror

Cavity R

ingdown

Spectrom

eter

Aerosol H

ydration/ Vox

Field M

ills

Dropsondes

Size X X X X X X X X X

Power X X X X X X X X X X X

Mass X X X X X X X X X ? XRemote / Autonomous Ops X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Telemetry X XAccess to Clean Air Stream X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Field of View X X

RFI / EMI X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Icing X

UA

V A

dap

tati

on

Iss

ues

Instruments

ALL INSTRUMENT PROBES


26

Technology – In Situ Instrumentation (Adaptation II of II)

Gas C

hrometograph

Mass S

pectrometer

Spectom

etry (Optical)

Ion Mobility S

pectrometer

Microeletcrom

agnetical S

ensors


itot Tube

Filtering/ P

hysical Collection

Radiom

eters

Cloud M

icrophysics Sensors

Nephelom

eters

Imagers

Extratom

eter (??)

Evaporative H

eating/ Cooling

FS

SP

Cryogenic/ C

hilled Mirror

Cavity R

ingdown

Spectrom

eter

Aerosol H

ydration/ Vox

Field M

ills

Dropsondes

Speed

Condensation X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X XEnvironment (Pressure/Temp) X X X X X X ?

Servicing X X X X

Long Flight Duration X X

Cost – Devel. X X X X X X X X

Cost – O&M X XData Storage/ Processing X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Instrument/UAV Platform Comms. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

UA

V A

dap

tati

on

Iss

ues

Instruments

ALL INSTRUMENT PROBES


27

Technology – Platform Operations

Reach Sort & Gen Rate Avail (?)

Fleet SME/Mix Collaboration

Local LOS Upon Demand Small platforms/ to many

Regional

10P

Global BLOS Hi Cont Few/many

Terms• C3 = BLOS (oth), LOS (20km radius)• Avail = Sorty rate, deployability (local, regional, global

• Intensive Observation Period (IOP)• Fleet Size/Mix = platform collaborations

• Mother/daughter = “local” ops• Formation Flight = “Local Ops”• “Local” = LOS

• OnBoard = IMM – Intelligent Mission Management (cont. management), Level of Autonomy

• Ground Station = dedicated GCS with data “network”• IA Collaboration =

• Ops - contract vehicles/ FLT services – “low”• R&D – joint NASA/NOAA/DOE – “oftens”/high

•(e.g. NASA operates platform)• Air Space – “File & Fly” (globally, equivalent to piloted)• Affordability =

• ACQ = f(capability)• OPS = $400/hour• Multi A/C per operator


28

Technology – Integrated Observing Operations

Integrate ground, sub-orbital and orbital observation systems

• Weather Forecasting: event-driven vs. continuous• Fill data voids (routine) – 4D sounding over

ocean and high latitudes• Bases should be distributed appropriately (100’s

of observations per day)• Launch UAV’s on regular schedule, adjustable

tracks, from surface to thousands of meters• Severe Weather – Surge of extra vehicles

Consistencies Across Focus Areas• Long Endurance• Remote and/or dangerous areas• Similar data types

• State quantities• Chemical compounds• Link satellite and surface data• Measure similar parameters

How does UAV integration differ from existing field operations?

• Safety and regulatory issues not uniformly settled or addressed globally

• Integration with manned aircraft (safety)• Extended UAV endurance – 24-7 if possible• 24-7 staff on ground• Satellite data link – SMB/s• Extensive onboard storage• Hazardous conditions ok away from people• Proactively address safety/regulation as NASA:

UNITE/ACCESS 5


29

Technology - Data

Weather Forecasting

(Short-term)

Chemistry

(Mid-term)

Climate Change

(Long-term)

Episodic

(IOP)

Standards Depends on Instrument Survey existing standards

Scientific Uses Weather forecasting GCM trends Transport and process models

Long-term trend models

Varies

Processing Sustained

Timely: < 3hours

RF to target for adaptive measurements

Reas.: < 3months

< 3months

Integration

End User Data Assim. Centers GCM Community

Chemists

Not yet for regulators

Survey End Users

Expand End Users

Archiving Level 0 data need

to be archived

Quality-controlled data Metadata are critical

Long-term stability

NMO Best Practices

Survey End Users

Expand End Users

Start with existing standards for A/CWMO, BUFR or EOS

USP Community Formats – spatial & temporal tagging

Must survey end users for standards, storage and archiving needs.Learn from the past – there is never sufficient funds allocated for data acquisitionanalysis and archivingDownloading data from remote locations


30

Technology - Communications

End Users

Access Timeliness Range Data Volume

Operational Modeling Centers

Real time Long Low

Public Security Real time – Days

Model Developers

Days – Months Medium High

Researcher Security Real time – Days

Medium High

Disaster Managers

Security Real time Short – Medium Medium

UAV Operators

Real time Short - Long Low

Standards – There are no new data from UAV’s. Standards are in place.Bandwidth – Some tradeoff between bandwidth and on-board processing

There are limitations to bandwidth based on telemetry.

Scenarios• Weather Prediction

• Low bandwidth and volume• Real time

• Researchers / Disaster Management• Real Time• Med-High bandwidth

• Researchers / Model Developers• Very high data volume• Not real time


31

Gaps, Roadmaps & Vision: Overview

ContextIn the final two rounds of work, teams focused on a variety of topics. Several groups worked to identify technology gaps and to develop roadmaps to address those gaps. Other teams worked on the vision for a joint program, innovative uses for UAV’s, developing responses to an RFI based on the work of this session, and next steps. The output of the last two rounds is represented in the following slides.


32

Gaps & Roadmaps – Platform

Gap – Atmospheric ChemistryConsolidated Regional Survey• Altitude: 0 – 5km• Payload: 250kgm (remote) / 5-40kgm (In situ)• Speed: ~50-100 knots• Range: Local• Duration: 1-5 days• 2-ship pair?Gap – Carbon Cycle• Altitude: 20m – 5km• Payload: 100kgm• Speed: 100-200 knots• Range: 10,000km• Duration: multi-day• All-weather – Icing & Turbulence• Maneuverable for terrain avoidance

Gap – Data Relay / Hurricane Monitoring• Altitude: >20km• Payload: 200kgm (Data link & dropsondes)• Speed: Maintain station 99.9%• Range: Global / +/- 30 degrees latitude• Duration: Continuous• Low Cost: ~ $100 / flight hour

Gap – Polar• Altitude: 1-18 km• Payload: 500-1000kgm (remote) / 25-30kgm (In situ)• Speed: 100-400 knots• Range: 10,000km - ?• Duration: Months!

Overarching Issues• Cost per hour

• =mass/endurance, utilization• # people

• Availability• Other demands• Basing OPS

“We considered the gaps for airframes/platforms. We looked at in situ vs. remote, large vs. small, fast vs long. It takes more people to fly a UAV than it does a manned vehicle. All of these things add cost to ownership.

A big multi-use UAV where you can trade out instruments will be a lower cost situation. Finding a common instrument interface is very important and probably a gap we need to think about.

If you have a unique mission where things are integrated into the payload, it's better to make lots of them and be able to use and lose them. Environmentally you may not be able to lose them as much as you might want.

The cost per hour of use will vary with the mass divided by the utilization of the unit. The longer it flies the less time there is to work on it. The higher utilization of the unit, the longer the amortization. The big problem is the availability. “


33

Gaps & Roadmaps – Instruments

Sensor Type Currently

Exists

Needs to be

Re-engineered

New Technology

Active Remote

Cloud Lidar

Ozone Lidar

Aerosol Lidar

Cloud Radar

SAR

GPS*

Water Lidar

Temperature Lidar

Precipication Radar

Vegetation Lidar

Wind Lidar

Passive Remote

NADIR (Microwave)

NADIR (???scoptical)

Scanning (??roptical)

Radiative Flux

In Situ


34

Gaps & Roadmaps – DataComm

Requirements• AC control OTH/LOS – Redundant• Telepresence

• Instrument control• Data Download (Not necessary to encrypt)

•Instrument health•Target opportunities / Phenomenology

Gap Never enough comms

Polar region > 200kbps

Commercial Standard

Consistent On-board processing & bandwidth management

BLOS RF Link BLOS RF Link

Technology Today

LOS/BLOS TRDSS

Inmarsat

Iridium

MIL STD?

FIPS 140-1

DOD UNET

ARDEM

CDL

Packeteer Global Hawk Global Hawk

Issue

Bandwidth Constraint

Global Connectivity

Security / Information Assurance

System Architecture & Standards Defined

Adaptive (Comm management)

Link Quality•Reliability•Error rate•Availability•Integrity

Fault-Tolerant Networking

Assumption: Enough on-board storageConsideration: Some countries may not want data

publicly available (e.g. Eastern Europe, Asia, China)


35

Ideas for NASA – NOAA – DOE Joint Efforts

Joint Program Science Goals• Weather – Improve 1-14 day forecast• Climate• Demo of Platform and Sensor Capability• Emergency Response (DHS, Wildfire)

Approach• Multiple platform types

• Aerosond• Hale ROA• Test Dallgater concept (?)

• Cooperation with International Organizations• e.g. THORPex & IPY

• Comparison to Satellites (e.g. things satellites do not do well)

• Joint Campaigns with multiple platform capabilities

Roles• All 3 agencies have complementary roles

• NASA – Technology provider & developer• NOAA – Operational user• DOE – Research use• All – Instruments, science & mission

requirements

Observations• Weather

• Adaptive Observations in NE Pacific• Model-driven• Fast response (24 ours)• Consistent with THORPex

• Hurricanes• Arctic – adaptive observations

• Climate• Arctic

• Full Atmosphere Characterization• All weather• Eulerian and Iangrangian

• Surface Characterization• Area, Depth, Density of ice• Snow/water equivalent• Openings, free water

• Carbon• Tundra, High Latitude, Inaccessible

Areas• Emergency Response

• Plume characterization


36

Ideas for Innovative Uses of UAV’sContingency Deployment• Urban emergencies• Natural disasters• Adaptive Observations

Multi-use Systems• Combined missions

• Border surveillance• Communication relay• Weather surveillance

• Education mission monitoring (Cameras & web page)

• Outreach

Miniaturization / Cost Reduction

• Instrumentation• Flight platform – frangible (?)

(size)

UAV Ensembles• Swarms• Parent/Child• Sampling upward – deploying

inexpensive rocket sonde• Dispersive platforms (break

apart, come together)• Deployment from piloted aircraft

Peer to Peer Transmission Strat.

Ruggedized Platforms• De-icing• Thunderstorm Penetration• Adaptable aerodynamics

Interactive Mission• Requests• Queued priorities

Intelligent Phenomenological Monitoring

• Fronts• Plumes

Power Alternatives• Soaring exploitation• Piezio electric

Space Environment Monitoring

• Planetary missions• Extreme upper atmosphere

sampling

Surface Sampling – UAV Lands VSTOL

• Ice/Water• Landsurface

Inflight Refueling• Extended Missions• Fleet Support

Tethered Platforms• Fixed urban obs with vertical

crawler• Environmental remote sensing

Data Processing on UAV• Transmission efficiency


37

UAV-Enabled Global Observation SystemSuggested Approach• Systems engineering approach• Proof of concept demos• Mixed platform approach• Develop CBNOPS• Integrate with satellites & ground demo• Integrate with other US agencies and international

agencies

Potential Benefits• Risk reduction to CCSP• Allows science unavailable from satellites or instead

of satellites• Increases the value of satellites

Performance Capability Objectives• Safe & efficient• Grid-based sustained measurement system• Data and ops needs to be networked with ground,

UAV’s and satellites• System needs to be able to support vertical profiles

• 0-100,000ft• Dropsondes, MEMS• Altitude change

• Long endurance > 24hours• Deployable – world wide coverage• Flexible & adaptable observations• Complementary platform & solutions (hi & low speed)• Global airspace operations

Relationship to National Priorities• Climate change science program• Global Earth Observation System (GEOSS)• OSTP R&D Guidelines

• HS• Network & Info technology• Namu• Climate & water **• Hydrogen fuel cells

Relationship to Existing Programs• Vehicle systems programs• VPDO• Access 5/UNITE FAA• DOD UAV roadmap

Relationship to Exploration Vision• Tech spinoff to PFV

• 100k vehicle similar to Mars• On-board data/science processing• Autonomy

Technology Gaps• Communication bandwidth over the poles• Sensors sized to fit in UAV’s (size, mass, power)• Robust UAV’s (icing and storm penetration)• Propulsion & Power• Autonomy


38

Ideas for Next StepsGet Senior Management Buy-In for a FY07

New Initiative1. Establish IPDO-like organization to capture

resources2. Vision statement – function of societal/economic

impact3. Mission needs statement4. Identify and include stakeholders5. Recruit advocates

Other Ideas for Next Steps

• Get Senior Management buy-in• Get Science Committee buy-in• Get INO buy-in

• Identify high level requirements• Prioritize science needs as a function of scientific

impacts• Identify stakeholders• Identify capabilities• Develop technology gaps and roadmaps• Risk assessments• Identify barriers• Perform analyses of alternatives• Perform proof of concept demos & pilot projects• Define success criteria

• Establish milestones & project structure• Training and marketing• Create joint organization• Identify and coordinate existing efforts that

contribute to our goals• Stoke the energy!

utilization of uav’s for global climate change research workshop 2 – boulder, colorado –...

Documents

global observation uavs

global observationspage

utilization of uavs

global observation systempage

research program

monitoring uavs

synthesis of workshop

science goals