Launching Our First Balloon
This is a picture of a partially inflated Computer-controlled Meteorological (CMET) balloon. We are planning on launching it tomorrow as part of a test of our equipment. We will launch it from the beach in Veracruz. The balloon carries several sensors that measure temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure.
There is also a satellite modem that makes it possible for us to get data back from the balloon on a regular basis and to direct the balloon to go up or down. The idea is to use the balloon to track a plume of pollution as it leaves Mexico City. We can then share our data with our colleagues who are in airplanes and who have more sophisticated instruments that can determine what is happening in the plume with regard to atmospheric chemistry.
For more information on some of the instruments used in the Milagro campaign, click here.
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