Small Unmanned Aircraft System Flights during the 2017 Solar Eclipse

NOAA/ARL/ATDD’s DJI S-1000 small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) was used to make continuous measurements of the atmospheric boundary layer and Earth’s surface temperature during the total solar eclipse over the continental United States on August 21, 2017. Measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and Earth’s surface temperature were made before, during, and after the period of eclipse totality. This allowed never-before seen observations of the thermal structure of the boundary layer in the lower 200 meters to be observed as solar radiation decreased and increased rapidly during the period of eclipse totality. Temperature and moisture profile data, as well as surface temperature data from the total part of the eclipse will be presented as well as lessons learned from the operation of the sUAS during this unique experiment.