The NASA Global Hydrology Resource Center (GHRC) DAAC published the Airborne Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS) instrument micro article. AVAPS observes vertical profiles of key atmospheric variables, including temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. These measurements are taken by a parachuted GPS dropsonde launched from the aircraft and descends to the surface. As the AVAPS dropsonde descends it continuously measures the atmospheric variables listed from its release altitude to the surface every 0.25 s for the wind variables and 0.5 s for the others. AVAPS has been widely deployed in multiple field campaigns and aircraft platforms. AVAPS has contributed to tropical cyclone research and weather forecasting. The micro article provides an overview of AVAPS and its applications to support current and future GHRC publications of AVAPS. The micro article is available at: https://ghrc.nsstc.nasa.gov/home/micro-articles/instrument-airborne-vertical-atmospheric-profiling-system-avaps.
