Shelley is helping me find things to do while Jon is gone... Talking to her, I realize that I know nothing about what is actually going on!!!
Instrument Field
This field is not far from the cabins. It was specially deforested for the sole purpose of meteorology! :o) Lots of crazy instruments are out here... |
LAUNCHING
This is a rawinsonde launch in process. You can kinda see Matt and Mark on either side of the balloon, making sure it's ok to go. Tonight is one of the nights they have to send those up every half hour or so... Usually it's just in the morning and at night (00Z) |
Ready to go...
They are launching balloons like this until midnight, I think. They don't always lauch so many, it's just that this is one of those rare times that a lot of researchers are taking measurments all at the same time here at the station, and they want detailed information on the boundary layer. |
Boundary Layer Instruments
The white thing in the foreground is where the rawinsondes are launched from... the radar wind profiler is in the back on the left, and two large boxes that hold speakers for the radio acoustic sounding system (RASS) are on either side of it. The trailer on the right is where all the data from these instruments is sent. My roommate Michelle spends a lot of time here. |
UV-B and MERCURY
The instrument in the cage is used to monitor UV-B levels. It's got some moving parts so I guess that's why it's locked up. The instrument in back of the cage measures mercury in the air! |
Other assorted instruments...
The one in the foreground with the orange tape around it measures radiation (the orange tape is there so you don't disturb the natural grass around it). There are some other instruments in the background that I can't remember the purpose of. I only know that they have been around since the 70's and there are lots others across the country that are similar to them. |
This is our pseudo-ASOS station. It measures the basic meteorological variables, like pressure, temperature, humidity, dewpoint, wind direction and speed, and rainfall (the tipping bucket is off to the left). |
