A New Tethered Balloon-Borne Payload for Fine-Scale Observations in the Cloudy Boundary Layer

A new scientific payload is introduced for fine-scale measurements of meteorological (wind vector, static air temperature, humidity, and air pressure) and microphysical (aerosol particles and cloud droplets) properties, suspended below a tethered balloon. The high resolution sensors and the tethered balloon are described. Measurements in a lifted fog layer from a first field campaign are presented.The detailed investigation of the fog/haze and the temperature inversion layer demonstrates the damping influence of the fog on temperature fluctuations, while thewind fluctuations are significantly decreased by theevolving temperature inversion, whichwas about 30 m above the fog layer.From spectral analysis the noise floors of the high-resolution sensors are determined to10^-6 kg m^-3 for the LWC (liquid water content) and 4 mK for the fast temperature sensor (UFT-B). The correlation betweentemperature and LWC structures in shallow haze layers is investigated. The release of latent heat and the corresponding warming in the haze of about 0.1 K could be quantified.     

On the distribution of physical and chemical particle properties in the atmospheric aerosol

Consideration of sources and growth dynamics of aerosols has led to the conclusion that there may be a distribution or variation of chemical composition and physical structure among atmospheric aerosol particles as a function of size, and within a narrow size range as well. A mathematical representation of these particle properties in terms of an additional dimension to the number size distribution is described. Examples of the relevance of this aspect of aerosol characterization for physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere are discussed. A review of the available techniques shows that several methods are available which can and have provided quantitative results on the distribution of particle properties. Examples of data from the literature have been selected and are presented as three-dimensional distributions illustrating the wide range of particle properties which may exist in narrow size intervals. An evaluation of these results reiterates the value of taking the distribution of particle properties in the atmosphere into account for sampling and modeling purposes.     

Complex mathematical model of the WIG motion including the take-off mode

This paper describes an effort to develop a predictive tool for the design of a new promising marine transport — the WIG craft. The presented mathematical model of the WIG craft is capable of modeling the aerodynamics of a WIG system including the ground effect, the hydrodynamics of a stepped planing hull with a hydrofoil and also the simulation of motion for the craft. Based on extensive experience using the model, it is shown that the most important and necessary features of WIG aero- and hydrodynamics are taken into account. The results of simulations have been validated through comparison with other theoretical approaches and also with model experiments. The mathematical model is applied to investigate the dynamics of the small manually piloted WIG craft: “Hydrowing VT01”. The numerical study resulted in recommendations allowing the pilot to overcome the pitch-up tendency and also to perform the take-off manoeuvre smoothly. The stability of the WIG with a hydrofoil and also the dynamic properties of anti-collision manoeuvres have been studied and are presented.     

An automated Dobson spectrophotometer

A new all-solid-state electronic circuit for Dobson instruments will be presented, including a self-balancing system and digital readout.     

Untersuchung der CO2-Konzentration im Tropopausenniveau

Zusammenfassung Zwischen 50° bis 85°N Breite wurde die atmosphärische CO₂-Konzentration während mehrerer Messflüge registriert. Diese war oberhalb der Tropopause bis zu 7 ppm (im Mittel etwa 2 ppm) niedriger als in der oberen Troposphäre. Im Jahresmittel entspricht diese CO₂-Konzentrationsdifferenz einem Fluss von etwa 10^–2 g CO₂/cm² Jahr aus der nördlichen Troposphäre in die Stratosphäre. Die Bedeutung dieser CO₂-Konzentrationsunterschiede für den atmosphärischen CO₂-Haushalt sowie für die Strahlungsbilanz im Tropopausenniveau kann erst nach Vorlage weiterer, über das ganze Jahr verteilter Messdaten erfolgen.

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Summary CO₂-concentration was measured during several flights in northern latitudes (50°–85°). Above Tropopause CO₂-concentration was up to 7 ppm (as a mean some 2 ppm) smaller than in upper troposphere. As a mean this difference in CO₂-concentration cm² year conforms to a CO₂-flux of some 10^–2 g CO₂/cm² year from northern troposphere into stratosphere. The importance of these CO₂-differences for atmospheric CO₂-system and for radiation balance in tropopause-height may be considered as soon as more CO₂-concentration data for the whole year are available.