Cloud Water Content Sensor

Anasphere is developing (under a NASA Phase II SBIR) a new cloud water content (CWC) sensor specifically intended for flight on small airborne platforms such as sounding balloons and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The previously existing CWC sensors were so large and heavy, and consumed so much power, that they were only able to be deployed using large aircraft. These obstacles severely limited the number of researchers able to use them, which in turn limited the number of cloud profiles collected. With cloud profiles in high demand due to the uncertainty surrounding the role of clouds in climate change, our new sensor was designed to allow researchers access to their own personal, inexpensive, free-flying sensors.