- 1Institute of Materials Chemistry, TU Wien, Vienna, 1060, Austria
- 2Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- 3School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061-0390, USA
Forests are increasingly recognized as significant sources of biogenic aerosols, impacting air quality and climate. However, understanding the distribution and transport of these aerosols within and above forest canopies remains a challenge. This study investigates the vertical profiles of aerosol and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations above a spruce forest in Lower Austria using a novel analytical instrument packages on Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
In our campaign we used multiple UAVs outfitted with various air quality sensors to monitor aerosol concentrations above natural and managed forests. Here, we describe the use of a drone aerosol analytics package consisting of a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor, a portable optical particle spectrometer (POPS), and an environmental sensor module to investigate particle emissions at different heights above a spruce forest within Wienerwald in Lower Austria. This package was compared to simultaneous measurements with other drone-based and ground-based systems, including optical particle counters (OPCs) and impingers.
Preliminary results showed higher particle number concentrations across all size channels (0.115 – 3.370 µm) at near-canopy altitudes (<5m above the canopy) compared to measurements at higher altitudes (> 5m above the canopy). Furthermore, our results point towards a height dependence of VOC concentrations, where VOC concentrations strongly decrease with increasing height. Future work aims to use drone-based aerosol measurements above forest canopies to assist in gauging forest health, such as identifying early warnings of attack by pathogens or insects.
How to cite: Wieland, F., Rupprecht, M., Wlasits, P. J., Gratzl, J., Langer, P., Treml, V., Horral, J., Smedley, C., Hanlon, R., Schmale III, D., and Grothe, H.: UAV-based aerosol and VOC measurements above a spruce forest canopy in Lower Austria, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18207, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18207, 2025.
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