Using Kites for Meteorological Measurement of the Tropical Marine Boundary Layer.

Abstract

Kite-based platforms to measure atmospheric properties have been used for centuries. With rapid development of new miniaturized sensor technology, kites may once again be utilized in atmospheric research. In this study, kites are found to be advantageous due to their low cost and capability for long-duration, continuous flights, which enable long-duration in-situ observation. We use our strategic location on the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i to make meteorological measurements of the steady incoming trade wind flow from the windward coast. Incoming marine air is measured from the coastline with instruments tethered to a kite string, giving information on trade wind flow properties, such as air temperature and humidity, for use in studying the marine boundary layer. We observe high-resolution vertical profiles and horizontal temporal variations of the atmospheric temperature and humidity. Temporal and vertical variation can also be observed by flying multiple instruments simultaneously at different heights within the marine boundary layer. Using a kite platform, we observe small-scale, strongly anticorrelated temperature and humidity perturbations at constant altitudes greater than 300 m above sea level. These anticorrelated variations are hypothesized to be important for convective initiation, following Nugent and Smith (2014).