Title: Using Zero-Emission Aerial Vehicles in Support of the ACE Mission
Presenting Author: David John Lary
Organization: University of Texas at Dallas

Abstract:
Using novel techniques to create the next generation of global ocean data products A significant interference to the satellite measurements of the ocean are atmospheric aerosols. ACE is an upcoming Tier-2 Decadal Survey mission focusing on Aerosol, Cloud systems, ocean Ecosystems, and their interactions, providing more detailed information on the aerosol composition, associated optical properties, size distributions and their vertical distribution. Aerosols can influence climate directly by either reflecting or absorbing the sun's radiation as it moves through the atmosphere. In this feasibility study we will be using the next generation of zero emission aerial vehicle to demonstrate their suitability for satellite validation, filling a much-needed gap not readily achieved by other platforms. A key gap in existing validation capabilities for ACE is measuring the size distribution and vertical profiles in the boundary layer in the 100 m closest to the surface. This is just where our small aerial vehicles excel. Our remote control aircraft is equipped with a full suite of meteorological instruments for temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction as well as an EPA certified Grimm Model 1.109 Aerosol Spectrometer & 1.320 Nano Check which provides extremely precise size distributions within the size range 12 nm -32 µm in 43 size channels. This precision particle spectrometer is unsurpassed in portable accuracy.