Vertical Temperature Profile Test by Means of Using UAV: An Experimental Methodology in a Karst Sinkhole of the Apulia Region (Italy)

Atmospheric parameter acquisition along the vertical profile of the troposphere across different locations on the Earth is of primary importance in gaining knowledge of the evolution of large-scale meteorological systems and the relative movements of air masses. Normally, this happens thanks to the launch, into the atmosphere, of radiosondes connected to balloons filled with helium gas. However, on a small scale, and in particular geomorphological contexts, different and peculiar meteorological situations may arise, in which the air column in the lower layers can behave differently from normal, giving rise to the so-called thermal inversions. In this work, in a particular sinkhole in the Apulia region, the use of a multi-rotor UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) equipped with a temperature data logger was tested. The flight along the vertical, starting from the lowest point of the sinkhole, made it possible to archive the temperature data of the air column in the first 80 m of altitude. The data validation confirmed the goodness of the UAV acquisitions and their subsequent processing made it possible to extrapolate the vertical temperature profile of the sinkhole during the winter thermal inversion phenomenon. In addition to confirming the predisposition of this sinkhole to strong thermal inversions, the preliminary results of this work have highlighted the efficiency of this new methodology. It has proved to be useful in assessing small-scale vertical profiles of atmospheric variables in a relatively low altitude range. Furthermore, this methodology can represent a strong scientific and technological innovation applicable in the meteorological field and in that of environmental monitoring.