Many important processes occur at the air-sea interface, and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) provide a cheap, safe method to observe them with regularity, high spatial resolution, and on short notice. These vehicles can carry cameras that gather images across the electromagnetic spectrum for a variety of applications, including animal and plant identification, counts and locations, ocean upwelling and front tracking, harmful algal bloom detection, kelp forest health, foraging and predation, detection of plastics and other artificial debris.

MBARI researchers released biodegradable dye from the research vessel Paragon (left) while collaborators from the US Coast Guard and other organizations watched from a second boat nearby. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was able to capture the extent of the dye dispersion.

UAVs provide a synoptic view of these near surface phenomena not available to boats and ships. Many of these can also be observed with satellites, but UAVs can fly under cloud cover and collect data at centimeter-scale spatial resolution. Moreover UAVs are not subject to the constraints of orbital mechanics, and can be quickly deployed in response to short-lived events of scientific interest.

In addition to imagers, UAVs can carry sensors to measure atmospheric particulates and gases such as dimethyl sulfide and carbon dioxide and other constituents relevant to marine ecology and climate. In addition to science applications, UAVs can be used to locate lost assets at the sea surface, such as AUVs or other gear. UAV operations are much cheaper and safer than crewed aircraft flights, which may cost hundreds of dollars per hour.

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