CU Atmospheric Research Drones To Study San Luis Valley

BOULDER, CO – Scientists are using drones to explore the climate in southwestern Colorado, just as the #416 fire near Durango has burned more than 56,000 acres, and there seems little rain relief in sight.

University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Unmanned Aircraft Systems program will study clouds, storms and rainfall of Colorado’s San Luis Valley beginning July 14 as part of Flight Week, CU said.

Researchers are experimenting with small, remotely-piloted drones carrying state-of-the-art weather instruments. Improving weather forecasts requires better observations from parts of the atmosphere where it can be difficult to make measurements.

You can even see demonstrations of the drones in action.

The International Society for Atmospheric Research using Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ISARRA) will host a community open house at Leach Airport near Alamosa, Colorado, on Saturday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to noon. A panel discussion held from 9 to 10 a.m. will feature CU Boulder and NOAA researchers explaining their projects, and answering questions from the community.

The experts on-hand will include:

• Gijs de Boer, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES)/ NOAA
• Brian Argrow, CU Boulder Ann & H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences
• Suzanne Smith, CLOUD-MAP/University of Kentucky
• Capt. Phil Hall, NOAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems program

Click here to RSVP

And speaking of fires and drones, firefighters at the #416Fire have begged drone enthusiasts to keep their flying toys away from the fire scene, where they interfere with firefighting aircraft dumping flame retardant and water on the flames.

Image via University of Boulder