As we dive and explore beneath the ice, another group of scientists is exploring what’s above, high up in the air – at an altitude of about 18,000 meters above this frozen continent.
This group, a collection of French researchers working with U.S. Universities of Wyoming, Colorado, and Purdue, is launching high altitude balloons. After 3 years of preparation, they have launched 18 balloons and are about to launch their final balloon later today or tomorrow depending on the weather conditions.
One of the balloons flying off
This group, eager to help students, agreed to take one of our WATER DROPs from the Computer Class at the Santa Cruz Adult School, up in the air on fight MSD08 as a passenger on this last balloon.
Phillipe, one of the French scientists, with a WATER DROP from the Santa Cruz Adult School
If you want to see the balloon on a map, or to check the flight status with the start time and end time check here (look for flight MSD08) http://www.lmd.polytechnique.fr/VORCORE/cciasi_balloon.php
Check out the launching weather forecast here. (The colored circles represent the direction and shape of the polar vortex above Antarctica. ) http://www.lmd.polytechnique.fr/VORCORE/Previsions_mcm.htm
The balloons are sent out to improve polar-orbiting satellite data over Antarctica. Instruments on board are used for studies on the meteorology and climate of the Antarctic plateau which will help with weather predictions and the accuracy of climate records. Other instruments will also monitor the polar vortex, a large-scale cyclone, or current of wind that encircles the polar region. Lastly, each balloon will drop some dropsondes, instruments connected to parachutes which measure temperature, pressure, moisture and wind in the atmosphere as they fall to the ground.
One of their longer-range plans is to examine the interactions between the climates of Antarctica and lower latitudes. Interestingly, the atmosphere in the tropics is the same temperature as the temperature above Antarctica as the group experienced directly when they were on the warm Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean, launching balloons to fly around the world. Their next destination is somewhere in the equatorial region – maybe French Guyana or Equator. Though they will be much warmer up there the logistics are more cumbersome. In Antarctic they only had to get the approval of 18 nations so that their balloons will not disturb anyone and in the equatorial regions they have to get 78 nations to allow them to launch their balloons. We wish them luck!
The French Team of scientists celebrating the anticipated launch of their last balloon.
For more information about their project – check out http://www.cnrm.meteo.fr/concordiasi/ or see their journal at http://www.lmd.polytechnique.fr/VORCORE/Djournal2/Journal.htm.
Also stay tuned for pictures of the balloon’s take-off as it takes a WATER DROP for an adventure of a lifetime.
On that note, I'd like to say welcome to a group of WATER DROPs from various schools in California: Sacred Heart in Saratoga, Our Lady of Merced in Merced, Independence High in Merced, and the Delisle Home School in Morgan Hill. Thank you and stay tuned for pictures and stories about their time here in Antarctica!
We got 17 WATER DROPs yesterday from Sacred Heart in Saratoga, Our Lady of Merced, Independence High in Merced, and the Delisle Home School in Morgan Hill. Thank you!