EES Air Pollution Seminar: Supporting Atmospheric Research Community with Airborne Measurements

Details

Fan Mei, Ph.D., Earth Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Abstract:
This presentation overviews the DOE ARM Aerial Facility’s effort to support the atmospheric research community through airborne deployments. Recently, AAF developed a novel approach for assessing vertical atmospheric layers over the Southern Great Plains using the ArcticShark, a mid-size Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS). Our focus is on examining atmospheric conditions and aerosol characteristics, as evidenced by data from 32 research flights, totaling approximately 97 flight hours. We present unique chemical composition data from March, June, and August 2013, revealing distinct seasonal patterns within the atmospheric column. We also evaluate the correlation between UAS-derived profiles and traditional weather balloon observations, highlighting the effectiveness of UAS in recording key atmospheric parameters.
Beyond the measurements overview, we also showcase the vertical profiles of optical and microphysical properties using UAS data, demonstrating their potential for validating remote sensing retrieval and filling the vertical data gap in the region. Our results not only affirm the ArcticShark UAS as a flexible platform for comprehensive atmospheric research but also deepen our comprehension of the Southern Great Plains’ vertical atmospheric layers.

Bio:
Dr. Fan Mei is an Earth Scientist at PNNL specializing in atmospheric science and technology. Her expertise lies in a thorough understanding of the physical and chemical properties of aerosols, coupled with proficiency in instrumentation and the characterization of aerosol and cloud properties.
As the Director of Science at the ARM Aerial Facility (AAF) and a payload scientist, Dr. Mei has accumulated decades of hands-on experience in atmospheric research through her participation in numerous field campaigns. In addition to piloted aircraft missions, she has developed scientific payloads for the ARM uncrewed aerial system (UAS) – ArcticShark and the ARM Tethered Balloon System (TBS). Since 2017, Dr. Mei has played a key role in supporting the continuous deployment of ARM TBS and ArcticShark, exemplifying her dedication to advancing atmospheric science.