First Conference of the International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely-piloted Aircraft

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are of large and increasing importance for environmental monitoring, e.g. under the aspects of climate change and sustainable development. COST Action ES 0802 coordinates ongoing and conceive future research on the development and application of RPA as a cost-efficient, trans-boundary method for the monitoring of the atmospheric boundary layer and the underlying surface of the Earth. These systems help to close the recent observational gap between established ground based and satellite based measurements and provide relevant atmospheric data both with high temporal and spatial resolution and an unique data coverage in space and time. This distinctly increases the understanding of the atmospheric boundary layer and related surface-atmosphere exchange processes which is crucial for future improvements in numerical weather prediction and climate simulation.

Several RPA systems and types of different size, complexity and equipped with different instrumentation, have successfully proven their functionality. Based on this, the Action promotes the conception and further development of prototypes for a fleet of RPA of different size, instrumentation, and operation range with respect to various specific observational requirements.

The interdisciplinary approach COST Actions ES 0802 has established a forum on the European level for the coordination of the relevant scientific, technical and legal aspects connected to a safe and permanent operation of RPA for routine environmental monitoring purposes.

The Spring meeting 2013 to be held in the University of the Baleares (UIB), Mallorca, and organised by Joan Cuxart,Maria Antonia Jimenez and Damia Gomila , aims to give an overview of the Status Quo on UAV systems and its applications to atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) research. It will cover the topics of the the COST Action’s working groups, see the website of the Action, www.cost-uas.net

The Conference will take place from 18 to 20 February 2013 and the final COST meeting is from 21 to 22 February 2013.