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Obtaining the Thermal Structure of Lakes from the Air
- Source :
- Water, Vol 7, Iss 11, Pp 6467-6482 (2015)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2015.
-
Abstract
- The significance of thermal heterogeneities in small surface water bodies as drivers of mixing and for habitat provision is increasingly recognized, yet obtaining three-dimensionally-resolved observations of the thermal structure of lakes and rivers remains challenging. Remote observations of water temperature from aerial platforms are attractive: such platforms do not require shoreline access; they can be quickly and easily deployed and redeployed to facilitate repeated sampling and can rapidly move between target locations, allowing multiple measurements to be made during a single flight. However, they are also subject to well-known limitations, including payload, operability and a tradeoff between the extent and density over which measurements can be made within restricted flight times. This paper introduces a novel aerial thermal sensing platform that lowers a temperature sensor into the water to record temperature measurements throughout a shallow water column and presents results from initial field experiments comparing \emph{in situ} temperature observations to those made from the UAS platform. These experiments show that with minor improvements, UASs have the potential to enable high-resolution 3D thermal mapping of a \(\sim\)1-ha lake in 2–3 flights (\textit{circa} 2 h), sufficient to resolve diurnal variations. This paper identifies operational constraints and key areas for further development, including the need for the integration of a faster temperature sensor with the aerial vehicle and better control of the sensor depth, especially when near the water surface.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20734441
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Water
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.5458eece3c34a1891bfcf74dfae3fe7
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/w7116467