M. Dale Stokes

Papers

Total Citations

129

H-Index

About

M. Dale Stokes is a leading figure in the development of innovative unmanned aircraft systems for atmospheric science, with his most-cited work focusing on the characterization of quadrotor drones for high-resolution aerosol and trace gas measurements. His research bridges engineering and environmental chemistry, enabling precise vertical profiling of near-surface atmospheric composition—a critical capability for understanding urban air quality, pollutant dispersion, and climate-relevant aerosol dynamics. Stokes’s 2016 paper on quadrotor-based aerosol-particle-concentration measurements, which has garnered 129 citations, demonstrates his pivotal role in overcoming the limitations of traditional sampling platforms, such as towers or manned aircraft, in constrained environments. By designing and validating lightweight sensor payloads for drones, he has opened new frontiers for studying atmospheric gradients at unprecedented spatial resolution. Beyond this flagship work, Stokes is recognized for advancing field-deployable instrumentation and interdisciplinary collaborations that translate engineering solutions into actionable environmental insights. His contributions have been widely adopted by researchers seeking to characterize pollution sources, boundary-layer processes, and chemical transport in complex terrains, cementing his reputation as a pioneer in drone-based atmospheric observation.