We have had some really nice weather here at Summit this past week; mild temperatures, light winds, and clear sky. Most of our instrumentation is in place and the instrument mentors are beginning to calibrate, make final adjustments, and collect preliminary data. Since we are interested in cloud measurements, we are excited that a very timely low pressure system is moving in within the next couple days. It will provide us with plenty of opportunity to make some initial cloud measurements while the majority of the ICECAPS crew is still on site. This is important to Brad and I who are the two crew members planning to spend time as science techs for the project. The instruments are largely autonomous, but we need to train on how to run them, interpret raw data output, monitor for problems, and troubleshoot common problems.
Our radiosounding (weather balloon) program is now up and running. We launch twice daily in accordance with the international radiosonde network time standard of 0000 and 1200 UTC (9:30 AM and PM local time). The radiosonde systems are helium filled balloons with humidity/temperature sensors and parachutes attached. Each flight lasts about 90 minutes and reaches a height around 25-27 km above sea level. During the flight the sensor continuously relays temperature and humidity readings to a ground station, providing the ICECAPS project with in situ vertical column measurements of these variables. We are able to get a complete profile of the troposphere and much of the stratosphere. We have been taking turns launching the radiosondes. It was my turn to do this morning’s launch. The picture below shows me in action.
It is very exciting for us that we are now at the dawn of the science phase of ICECAPS!
Me launching one of the first ICECAPS radiosondes.