Click photo to enlarge
Niwa scientists sent this weather balloon aloft at Lauder
yesterday to measure the atmosphere as part of a global
greenhouse gas project. Photo by Lynda Van Kempen.
A gulfstream jet flying low over Lauder yesterday was on
an international mission, taking a slice of the atmosphere so
scientists can learn more about greenhouse gases globally.
The specially modified research jet, operated by the National
Centre for Atmospheric Research in the United States, is
flying from the Arctic to the Antarctic as part of a
three-year project mapping the distribution of carbon dioxide
and related gases.
Lauder was the focus of its attention yesterday afternoon,
with the jet making a loop around Niwa's atmospheric climate
research station, flying as low as 300m.
Lauder is part of the global Total Carbon Column Observing
Network and is one of 14 key sites worldwide where data is
used to understand the global carbon cycle.
The aircraft records a profile of greenhouse gases from the
stratosphere down to the Earth's surface and at same time,
scientists on the ground measure the concentration of those
gases at the Earth's surface and in the air overhead.
Niwa Lauder consultant Brian Connor said cloudy weather meant
the jet's data-gathering flight was in doubt earlier in the
day.
"Cloudy weather isn't that wonderful for us.
"It's fine for the plane, but it affects the measurements
taken from the ground at the same time.
"We use a spectrometer that looks at the sun and need a clear
path to do that," Dr Connor said.
Fortunately, most of the cloud had lifted by the time the jet
was due and he was hopeful the mission would be successful.
If the measurements are not good enough because of the cloud,
the aircraft will make a return trip tomorrow .
Dr Connor said the jet was geared up to take measurements at
the full range of its altitudes and at all latitudes at
different times of the year.
"The data it provides is very valuable and on this trip it's
flying over two sites in the United States, this one and one
in Australia.
"All the data from all the sites is looked at as a whole," he
said.
The Lauder team launched a weather balloon immediately after
the flight. The balloon will measure the ozone levels and
that data will also be used as part of the international
project.
Lauder Niwa manager Paul Johnston said the information
collected from the balloon would describe the atmosphere,
humidity, state of the ozone and pressure at the time of the
flight.
The helium-filled balloon with sensors attached was worth
about $1600 and blustery weather meant the launch was
marginal.
"If it's too windy and the balloon gets battered, or crashes
into the ground, then obviously you can't get the information
from it, so wind makes the launch much more difficult," Dr
Connor said.
The airborne data-gathering exercise is known as the Hippo
project - Hiaper pole-to-pole observations (Hippo) of
carbon-cycle and greenhouse gases study.
The research jet is called Hiaper - high-performance
instrumented airborne platform for environmental research.
- lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
