Measurement report: Vertically resolved atmospheric properties observed over the Southern Great Plains with the ArcticShark uncrewed aerial system

Mei, Fan; Zhang, Qi; Zhang, Damao; Fast, Jerome D.; Kulkarni, Gourihar; Pekour, Mikhail S.; Niedek, Christopher R.; Glienke, Susanne; Silber, Israel; Schmid, Beat; Tomlinson, Jason M.; Mehta, Hardeep S.; Mansoura, Xena; Cheng, Zezhen; Vandergrift, Gregory W.; Lata, Nurun Nahar; China, Swarup; Zhu, Zihua

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 6

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 6

Measurement report

|

21 Mar 2025

Measurement report |

| 21 Mar 2025

Measurement report: Vertically resolved atmospheric properties observed over the Southern Great Plains with the ArcticShark uncrewed aerial system

Fan Mei, Qi Zhang, Damao Zhang, Jerome D. Fast, Gourihar Kulkarni, Mikhail S. Pekour, Christopher R. Niedek, Susanne Glienke, Israel Silber, Beat Schmid, Jason M. Tomlinson, Hardeep S. Mehta, Xena Mansoura, Zezhen Cheng, Gregory W. Vandergrift, Nurun Nahar Lata, Swarup China, and Zihua Zhu

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-3425-2025-supplement

Data sets

Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System aboard aircraft (AAFNAVAIMS100HZ) F. Mei and B. Ermold https://doi.org/10.5439/2204048

Trace gas concentrations -- airborne (AAFH2O) K. Burk et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1821160

Infrared Thermometer -- Airborne (AAFIRT) K. Burk et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1821129

Navigational Location, Motion, and Attitude for Airborne Platforms (AAFNAV) F. Mei et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1339718

Navigational Location, Motion, and Attitude for Airborne Platforms (AAFNAVVEC) F. Mei et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1238153

Condensation particle counter aboard aircraft (AAFMCPC) K. Burk et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1820906

Portable optical particle spectrometer aboard an airborne platform (AAFPOPS) F. Mei and B. Ermold https://doi.org/10.5439/2322345

Tricolor Absorption Photometer aboard aircraft (AAFSTAP) G. Gibler et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1838697

Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System aboard aircraft (AAFMETAIMS100HZ) F. Mei and B. Ermold https://doi.org/10.5439/2204047

ARM Aerial Facility (AAF) -- Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Filter Aerosol Sampler (AAFFILTSAMP) k. Burk et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1821176

Optical Particle Counter aboard aircraft (AAFMOPC) G. Gibler et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1838698

Navigational Location, Motion, and Attitude for Airborne Platforms (AAFNAVAIMS) M. Cristina et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1238157

Meteorological Instrumentation aboard Aircraft (AAFMETAIMS) A. Koontz et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1349241

Meteorological Instrumentation aboard Aircraft (AAFTRH) K. Burk et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1820905

Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System aboard aircraft (AAFNAVAIMS100HZ) F. Mei and B. Ermold https://doi.org/10.5439/2204048

Cloud Type Classification (CLDTYPE) D. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1349884

Micropulse Lidar Cloud Mask Machine Learning VAP (MPLCMASKML) E. Cromwell et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1637940

Boundary-layer height data with CEIL (CEILPBLHT) V. Morris et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1095593

Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLHTRL1ZHANG) D. Zhang and C. Sivaraman https://doi.org/10.5439/2282350

Raman Lidar Vertical Profiles Feature Detection and Extinction (RLPROFFEX1THOR) E. Cromwell et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1373934

Retrieved Number concentration of CCN (RNCCNPROF1KULKARNI) C. Sivaraman et al. https://doi.org/10.5439/1813858

Airmass trajectories to support studies using ARM Aerial Facility (AAF) data (ARMTRAJAAF) D. Zhang and I. Silber https://doi.org/10.5439/2473260

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Short summary

This study highlights the unique capability of the ArcticShark, an uncrewed aerial system, in measuring vertically resolved atmospheric properties. Data from 32 research flights in 2023 reveal seasonal patterns and correlations with conventional measurements. The consistency and complementarity of in situ and remote sensing methods are highlighted. The study demonstrates the ArcticShark’s versatility in bridging data gaps and improving the understanding of vertical atmospheric structures.