DriftsondeDriftsondeFlights during AMMAFlights during AMMA Stratospheric balloons to study African Stratospheric balloons to study African

monsoonmonsoon and formation of cyclonesand formation of cyclones

National Center for Atmospheric Research National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)(NCAR)

Centre National d’Etudes SpatialesCentre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) (CNES) [French National Center for Space Studies][French National Center for Space Studies]

Terry Hock,Terry Hock,Dave Parsons, Hal Cole, Jack Fox, Joe VanAndel, Keith Romberg NCAR/EOLDave Parsons, Hal Cole, Jack Fox, Joe VanAndel, Keith Romberg NCAR/EOL

Nov. 2, 2006Nov. 2, 200655thth International Conference on Mesoscale Meteorology and Typhoon International Conference on Mesoscale Meteorology and Typhoon

ATLANTIC OCEAN

~58,000 ft50 - 100 mb

Zero-pressureor

Super PressureBalloon

Gondola(20 to 50 sonde capacity)

SondesCommanded for Release

NORTHAMERICA

EUROPE

IRIDIUMLEO Satellite

Cost-effective dropsonde observations of wind, temperature, and humidity to fill critical gaps in coverage over oceanic and remote artic and continental regions over days to weeks.

Driftsonde Concept

• Support of the THORPEX International Science and Implementation Plans for demonstration tests of new technologies for the delivery of in-situ sensing • The tests were supported by CNES for the ballooning (French Space Agency)• Support within the US by NCAR and NOAA/THORPEX for the driftsonde gondola and new dropsondes• 8 Balloon flights• 24 to 40 Miniture Dropsondes per balloon flight• Launch Location Zinder, Niger• Flight Operations Center Paris and Boulder• Engineering team effort between CNES & NCAR• Flights 10+ days• CNES Delveloped Super Pressure Balloon and Flight Control System• NCAR Developed Driftsonde Gondola System, Miniture Dropsonde and Ground Sounding Software

AMMA Driftsonde Project Goals

Zinder Team Philippe Cocquerez, Stéphanie Vénel (CNES);Terry Hock, Jack Fox,, Keith Romberg (NCAR)

Paris Team Philippe Drobinski (IPSL/SA);

Dave Parsons, Joe VanAndel, Hal Cole (NCAR)

Boulder TeamDean Lauritsen, Charlie Martin, Gary Granger,

Dennis Flanigan, (NCAR)

AMMA Driftsonde Team

Zinder Flight Operations

Final TestingFinal Testing

PayloadPayload

Sonde LoadingSonde Loading

Balloon InflationBalloon Inflation

Zinder NigerZinder Niger

Driftsonde AMMA Launch LocationZinder, Niger

Flight #1 Driftsonde LaunchFlight #1 Driftsonde LaunchAugust 28August 28thth 2006 2006

MIST Design Criteria & MotivationMIST Design Criteria & Motivation- Low cost (current aircraft dropsondes cost >$700)- Low cost (current aircraft dropsondes cost >$700)- Small (credit card size)- Small (credit card size)- Lightweight (- Lightweight (Gondola to carry 80 sondesGondola to carry 80 sondes))- Pressure derived from GPS & hydrostatic- Pressure derived from GPS & hydrostatic equation (using known launch pressure) equation (using known launch pressure)- Operate at -70º C (20km altitude)- Operate at -70º C (20km altitude)

MIST Sonde SpecificationMIST Sonde Specification • Size: 4.62 cm diameter, length 22.86 cm• Weight: 145 grams• Fall rate ~10 m/s at surface, cone parachute• Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Winds & Position

- 50 mil Thermsitor- Humicap w/temperature sensor for substrate-16 channel GPS receiver

• Sensor sample rate 0.5 secs• Remote control Power On & Sonde Release

Miniature In-situ Sounding Technology (MIST Sonde developed at NCAR)

GPS ReceiverGPS Receiver(16 channel)(16 channel)

TemperatureTemperature SensorSensor(50 mill bead thermistor)(50 mill bead thermistor)

Humidity SensorHumidity Sensor(humicap w/substrate(humicap w/substrate temperature)temperature)

TransmitterTransmitter(400 MHz)(400 MHz)

GPS AntennaGPS Antenna

2 Microprocessors2 Microprocessors

Lithium BatteriesLithium Batteries

Iridium Satellite Transceiver

NCAR System ElectronicsNCAR System Electronics

MiniatureMiniatureDropsondeDropsonde

Lower Part of GondolaLower Part of Gondola

Gondola Electronics- sonde receiver systemGondola Electronics- sonde receiver system

Upper Part of GondolaUpper Part of Gondola

AMMA Driftsonde FlightsFlight

#Launch

DateTerminated Flight Duration

(Days)Notes

1 Aug 28 Sep 3 6.3 24 sondes

2 Aug 29 Aug 30 0.8 30 Sondes

(Electronic Failure)

3 Sep 1 Sep 9 7.9 40 sondes

4 Sep 4 Sep 11 7.0 37 Sondes

5 Sep 6 Sep 11 5.0 32 Sondes

6 Sep 9 Sep 19 10.0 32 Sondes

7 Sep 12 Sep 13 0.8 30 sondes (Balloon Failure)

8 Sep 15 Oct 4 18.8 33 Sondes

6 successful missions from the 8 Driftsondes launched

Predicted Flight Trajectories

Driftsonde Flights

Sonde release

Driftsonde dataDriftsonde 3 in the vicinity of tropical cyclone Florence

Tropical cyclone Florence

Sondes released from driftsonde #3

Driftsonde dataDriftsonde 4 in the vicinity of tropical cyclone Gordon

Sondes released from driftsonde #4

Tropical cyclone Gordon

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Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention