VORTEX-USA/PERiLS

NSSL Profiling Lead (2016-2023)

My Role

  • Served as NSSL profiling PI, leading CLAMPS deployment planning and execution over the multiple years of VORTEX-SE/USA and then for PERiLS
  • Led and managed the CopterSonde project, including NOAA UAS processes and executing 100+ flights.
  • Worked as part of the PI team during the field season and designed/led local field safety training.

Propagation, Evolution, and Rotation in Linear Storms (PERiLS)

In order to satisfy obligations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s (NOAA) Office of Atmospheric and Oceanic Research (OAR), the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) has a need to make measurements of the temperature, relative humidity, and winds in the lower layer of the Earth’s atmosphere from the surface up to 5000 feet above ground level (AGL).

The goal of the project was to obtain meteorological measurements from remote sensing platforms (CLAMPS) and small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) in coordination with the NOAA VORTEX-SE program and the NSF-funded PERiLS (Propagation, Evolution and Rotation in Linear Storms) project. The CLAMPS facilities and sUAS were part of a larger suite of in situ and remote sensing systems to measure atmospheric conditions in quiescent conditions and in the environment prior to the arrival of potentially severe thunderstorms in the southeast U.S. for the PERiLS project. Observations from the sUAS augment other observations collected from the ground-based CLAMPS remote-sensing systems that were co-located with the sUAS. An ancillary goal was for NSSL to gain valuable experience in pursuit of NOAA’s goals for determining the value of sUAS based observing systems for monitoring weather conditions on a more routine basis, particularly on days when severe thunderstorms are possible.

Operations

Operations occurred during 8 operating periods between Feb 1 and May 8 in 2022 and 2023. Operating periods lasted roughly 8 hours and mostly during periods leading up to expected severe weather within domains selected by NOAA VORTEX-SE leadership, though some operating periods were during quiescent weather. During the operating periods three flight teams conducted flights simultaneously at three separate locations (two of which are coloacated with a CLAMPS facility). Flights were vertical profile flights traveling straight up and down, from 0-5000ft AGL, on 30-minute intervals if weather conditions allowed. The UAS ascended at 3-3.5 m/s and descended at 6 m/s.

Sites

  1. Piney Creek RV Park (32.909556, -90.380899): The center-line will be in Class G airspace below 700 ft AGL and in Class E airspace above 700 ft AGL.
  2. Lake Village RV Park ( 33.36382, -91.26238): The center-line will be in Class G airspace below 700 ft AGL and in Class E airspace above 700 ft AGL.
  3. Region within 0.5 miles of Aviation Flight Services, Schlater (33.640122, -90.362044): The center-line will be in Class E airspace from the surface to the requested 5000 ft AGL