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Drone Measurements of Temperature Inversion Characteristics and Particulate Matter Vertical Profiles in Urban Environments

Authors:
Adnan Masic at University of Sarajevo
Adnan Masic
Boran Pikula at University of Sarajevo
Boran Pikula
Dževad Bibić at University of Sarajevo
Dževad Bibić
Vahidin Hadžiabdić at University of Sarajevo
Vahidin Hadžiabdić
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Abstract

A new approach for measurements of vertical profiles of temperature and particulate matter (PM) concentrations is developed and tested. Special purpose unmanned aerial vehicle with data acquisition system has been developed in-house. The temperature sensor is based on a fast response thermistor, while the PM sensor uses optical detection of particles. All sensors were tested in the laboratory and calibrated against reference instruments. Two urban locations were selected for field tests. This research produced a very useful asset that characterizes the relation between temperature inversion and air pollution. Keywords: temperature inversion; particulate matter; drone; boundary layer.
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
DOI: 10.2507/32nd.daaam.proceedings.018
DRONE MEASUREMENTS OF TEMPERATURE INVERSION
CHARACTERISTICS AND PARTICULATE MATTER
VERTICAL PROFILES IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Adnan Masic, Boran Pikula, Dzevad Bibic,
Vahidin Hadziabdic & Almir Blazevic
This Publication has to be referred as: Masic, A[dnan]; Pikula, B[oran]; Bibic, D[zevad]; Hadziabdic, V[ahidin] &
Blazevic, A[lmir] (2021). Drone Measurements of Temperature Inversion Characteristics and Particulate Matter Vertical
Profiles in Urban Environments, Proceedings of the 32nd DAAAM International Symposium, pp.0123-0126, B. Katalinic
(Ed.), Published by DAAAM International, ISBN 978-3-902734-33-4, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria
DOI: 10.2507/32nd.daaam.proceedings.018
Abstract
A new approach for measurements of vertical profiles of temperature and particulate matter (PM) concentrations is
developed and tested. Special purpose unmanned aerial vehicle with data acquisition system has been developed in-house.
The temperature sensor is based on a fast response thermistor, while the PM sensor uses optical detection of particles. All
sensors were tested in the laboratory and calibrated against reference instruments. Two urban locations were selected for
field tests. This research produced a very useful asset that characterizes the relation between temperature inversion and
air pollution.
Keywords: temperature inversion; particulate matter; drone; boundary layer.
1. Introduction
Temperature inversion is a natural phenomenon in the atmospheric boundary layer which has strong effects on local
climate and air pollution. Understanding temperature inversion plays important role in air quality management. If the
temperature inversion is strong enough, natural convection is prevented, and if this happens over an urban area, the
concentration of air pollutants rises quickly. Thus, quantitative characteristics of temperature inversion should be
regularly investigated to understand and predict air quality in any area prone to temperature inversions, particularly urban
valleys.
Quantitative characteristics of the temperature inversion layer may be obtained using various field measurements and
observations. Some of the most widely used methods include satellite observations [1], microwave radiometer [2],
radiosonde [4]-[7], and drone base measurements [8]-[13]. The novelty in this research is a combination of instruments
and conditions: simultaneous measurements of vertical profiles of temperature and particulate matter (PM) concentration
in urban environments using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone).
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
2. The drone and sensors
An in-house developed drone [14] named MEF-707 was used in this research. It is a medium-sized hexacopter, with
a diagonal distance between motors of 707 mm, powered by open-source hardware and software (Figure 1). Major
components of MEF-707 are:
• Arducopter open-source flight stack,
• Pixhawk flight controller,
• DJI E800 motors,
• DragonLink long-range radio control system,
• Carbon fiber frame.
Data acquisition system [15] is also in-house developed, and it is called MAQS (Mobile Air Quality System) [16],
[17]. It is a modular platform for measurements of various parameters in the atmosphere. The primary application of
MAQS is air pollution measurement [18]-[21], but it is expandable with other sensors, including pressure, temperature,
relative humidity, carbon dioxide, wind speed, and GNSS coordinates. For the measurements of altitude above ground
level (AGL), a barometer was used. A thermistor with a negative coefficient (NTC) was used for temperature
measurements. All sensors were calibrated against reference instruments. MAQS system was installed atop of the UAV,
in a spot with minimal air turbulence.
Fig. 1. The MEF-707 drone.
3. Vertical profiles
By taking into account the results of our previous campaigns [9] and [13] we were looking for representative test
locations for vertical measurements up to 500m above ground level. The following locations were selected:
• Hadžići: 43.8210000(N), 18.1961210(E), 562 m ASL,
• Vogošća: 43.8946190(N), 18.3736600(E), 553 m ASL.
Figure 2 shows vertical profiles in Vogošća on 19.01.2021. with strong temperature inversion starting from the ground
and very low air temperature. As a consequence, alarmingly high concentrations of PM2.5 were measured on the ground.
Temperature inversion appeared at 180m above ground in Hadžići on 02.02.2021. (Figure 3), but the temperature gradient
in the inversion layer was moderate and the air pollution level wasn’t too high.
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Fig. 2. Vertical profiles in Vogošća.
Fig. 3. Vertical profiles in Hadžići.
Figures 2 and 3 show the complexity of the relationship between temperature inversion and air quality. Not every
temperature inversion leads to a high concentration of air pollutants. If the gradient in the inversion layer is mild, then
natural convection is not prevented completely. But if the temperature inversion gradient is strong and close to the ground,
leaving only a shallow atmospheric layer below, this may lead to a dramatic concentration of particulate matter, especially
if the ambient air temperature is very low.
4. Conclusion
Simultaneous measurements of temperature and PM2.5 were performed using a drone at the different field locations.
The results provided evidence of the strong influence of temperature inversion on air pollution in urban environments.
An innovative technique based on an in-house developed drone and data acquisition system was used. This platform
offers key advantages over other techniques for vertical profiles measurements: low cost per single measurement and full
control of flight trajectory and experimental setup in both vertical directions.
Two quantitative characteristics of the temperature inversion layer are particularly important: the height above ground
level at which the inversion starts, and the temperature gradient in the inversion layer. As a recommendation for future
work, it would be useful to include measurements of concentrations of toxic gasses, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur
dioxide. Long-term speaking, the drone-based platform for atmospheric observation and measurements has the potential
to change the paradigm of research in this field.
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32ND DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
5. References
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