Arctic Summer Cloud-Ocean Study
Tethered sonde profiles
To obtain in-situ boundary-layer observations through a deeper layer, a sensors package was deployed hanging under a tethered balloon, and was quasi-continuously winched up and down in the ~0 – 600 m layer. These measurements were only interrupted when weather conditions with dense fog persisted for long periods of time since this was detrimental for the polar-bear watch. The winch was located in “Met Alley” (see Micrometeorology) which this was one (of two) reason why this site was continuously manned. The sensor package consisted of a Gill sonic anemometer in an aerodynamic housing and sensors for mean temperature and relative humidity, as well a sensor package movement and orientation. A CLASP aerosol sensors was also included but its inlet often froze up when the package was inside clouds. A camera set to take low-rate time lapse photos also hang under the tethered balloon. The data provided include one set of mean profiles and one set of TKE-dissipation rate; a measure of turbulence derived from the so-called inertial sub-range of wind speed power spectra.
Download
View of tether sonde from below along the tether cable.