Below are photos contributed by the South African Weather Bureau team
at the Irene, Pretoria Station..
Ozonesonde Group:
Co-I/Project Manager Gerrie Coetzee
Cal Archer, Danie Esterhuyse, Agnes Phahlane
Station premises: Agricultural Research Centre, Irene.
The Weather Bureau has premises in a farm south of the
village of Irene, between Pretoria and Johannesburg
used for agricultural research. The launching site is 23 km drive south
from the Weather Bureau offices.
Irene Archive
South African Weather Service
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Irene Weather Office seen from the north. Notice the Dobson 89 in far lefthand
corner in the first photo.
Agnes Phahlane behind Dobson 89. During the ozonesonde flight dobson
measurements of total ozone may be made (depending on the cloud conditions)
to compare with the integrate column ozone from the ozonesonde.
Electronics lab inside the Irene station.
Cal Archer preparing an ozonesonde on the day-of-flight by checking its
responses to high and lo ozone.
Preparing for flight - Attaching the Vaisala radiosonde to the ozonesonde
styrofoam box. The ozonesonde is tightly bound for protection - passing through
the jetstream and the stratophere/tropophere interface, the ozonesonde package
faces much turbulence as it continues its journey upward.
Cal Archer and Danie Esterhuyse sealing the rubber balloon which will
be attached to the ozonesonde and parachute.
Facing a strong wind. It is important not to let the balloon contact the
ground to prevent contaminating the sensitive thin rubber skin and prevent
premature bursting during flight.
Danie Esterhuyse in a 2004 ozonesonde launch.
Irene Weather Office seen from the north. Notice the Dobson 89 in far lefthand
corner in the first photo.
Agnes Phahlane behind Dobson 89. During the ozonesonde flight dobson
measurements of total ozone may be made (depending on the cloud conditions)
to compare with the integrate column ozone from the ozonesonde.
Electronics lab inside the Irene station.
Cal Archer preparing an ozonesonde on the day-of-flight by checking its
responses to high and lo ozone.
Preparing for flight - Attaching the Vaisala radiosonde to the ozonesonde
styrofoam box. The ozonesonde is tightly bound for protection - passing through
the jetstream and the stratophere/tropophere interface, the ozonesonde package
faces much turbulence as it continues its journey upward.
Cal Archer and Danie Esterhuyse sealing the rubber balloon which will
be attached to the ozonesonde and parachute.
Facing a strong wind. It is important not to let the balloon contact the
ground to prevent contaminating the sensitive thin rubber skin and prevent
premature bursting during flight.
Danie Esterhuyse in a 2004 ozonesonde launch.