Aerostat Cable Vertical Atmospheric Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for acquiring vertical profiles of atmospheric parameters, such as sounding balloons, meteorological towers, and satellite remote sensing, face limitations including poor real-time performance, high construction costs, limited measurement altitudes, and significant errors, necessitating a more reliable and mobile solution for environmental monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an aerostat system with vertically distributed multi-parameter measuring devices along a cable, transmitting data wirelessly to the ground for real-time vertical profile acquisition, allowing for adjustable measurement altitudes and device spacing, and providing calibration data for radar and remote sensing devices without assumptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sounding balloons are used to acquire vertical profiles of atmospheric parameters, then measurement cost is reduced and flight time is extended, but real-time performance deteriorates and measurement speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the measurement process into multiple parallel measurement points along the cable, with multiple measuring devices operating simultaneously at different altitudes. This segmentation allows the system to collect data from multiple levels in parallel, dramatically improving measurement speed while maintaining cost-effectiveness compared to single-point measurement methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional single-point vertical measurement to a distributed spatial measurement system along the cable dimension. By arranging measuring devices at multiple positions along the cable length, the system creates a one-dimensional measurement array that enables simultaneous multi-level observation, transforming the measurement approach from sequential to parallel.
2Reliability
If meteorological towers are constructed to realize vertical measurement, then measurement stability is improved, but construction cost increases and mobility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cable acts as an intermediary structure that provides stable support for multiple measuring devices without requiring a full meteorological tower construction. The aerostat-borne cable system serves as a mobile platform that delivers tower-like measurement stability at a fraction of the construction cost and with full mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a simplified version of the meteorological tower function using a cable-based platform instead of a rigid tower structure. This copying approach replicates the essential measurement capability while eliminating the need for expensive, permanent tower construction, achieving similar stability through a different, more flexible structural approach.
3Productivity
If radar and satellite remote sensing are used for atmospheric detection, then real-time acquisition is achieved, but measurement errors increase due to assumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring devices on the aerostat cable system perform self-calibration by directly measuring atmospheric parameters at multiple altitudes without requiring external reference data or assumptions. Each device independently measures temperature, pressure, humidity, and other parameters, providing self-validated data that serves as ground truth for validating radar and satellite measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system measures multiple atmospheric parameters simultaneously at different altitudes, creating a comprehensive vertical profile that captures the actual atmospheric state. This multi-parameter, multi-level measurement approach replaces the single-point, assumption-based remote sensing measurements with direct, validated observations of temperature, pressure, humidity, and other critical parameters.
4Length of stationary object
If sounding balloons rise to high altitudes, then measurement altitude is extended, but measurement time increases and real-time performance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple segments with measuring devices positioned at regular intervals along its length. This segmentation allows the system to measure atmospheric parameters at multiple altitudes simultaneously rather than sequentially, reducing the total measurement time while maintaining extended altitude coverage from near-ground level up to the aerostat altitude.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method of simultaneously acquiring vertical profiles of multiple atmospheric parameters. Measuring devices based on multiple principles and capable of measuring multiple parameters simultaneously are fixed on a cable of an aerostat at specified distance decided by measurement task, each measuring device finishes measuring the atmospheric parameters at its altitude thereof, and transmits data to a ground data acquisition and processing device in real time, so as to synchronously acquire the real-time measured profiles of multiple atmospheric parameters. The profile data does not have any assumption, and standard data can be provided to a ground remote sensing device like radar for measuring at the same place while regular meteorological parameters and atmospheric contamination data are provided to atmospheric and environmental governance departments.