https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/ 2026-04-20T11:56:07+00:00 https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/ https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:favicon.ico text/html 2022-05-24T11:29:28+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_05_23&rev=1653391768&do=diff 24 May 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Summary Lost radiosonde down-link and Minisonde GPS link shortly after launch, The radiosonde link issue was the result of not having cable connected to antenna. Once cable was connected, the receiver started obtaining data on the balloon descent. text/html 2022-05-31T19:21:48+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_05_26&rev=1654024908&do=diff 26 May 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Launch of Ozonesonde and Minisonde was successful, however issues with the Windsond laptop battery resulted in shutdown of the laptop and permanent data dropout for the Minisonde. Replacing battery and/or using a different laptop should resolve this issue. text/html 2022-05-31T19:30:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_05_29&rev=1654025401&do=diff 29 May 2022 Ozonesonde Launch A successful test of a balloon launch with two Ozonesondes attached. Purpose was to compare differing solutions to see if ozone measurements were substantially different. Solutions compared very well with some slight (albeit minor) discrepancies in the stratosphere. text/html 2022-06-01T15:32:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_05_31&rev=1654097520&do=diff 31 May 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde launch at 7pm CST was successful. Two previous ozonesondes had some possible malfunctions/anomalies, but the third proved useable. Late evening launch time resulted in no attempted recovery of package. Therefore, no Windsond was attached with this launch. text/html 2022-06-04T18:18:53+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_02&rev=1654366733&do=diff 02 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Launch was done slightly earlier than initial launch time due to early landing of NASA aircraft. Everything went smoothly, no hiccups. Sonde was not recovered due to late afternoon, early evening timeframe. text/html 2022-07-01T15:42:50+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_05&rev=1656690170&do=diff 05 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde launch successful. Balloon was slightly overfilled and therefore had a premature burst altitude of 27km (desired around 30-32km). Very fast descent rate meant parachute got tangled once again, likely with the remains of the balloon. Retrieval also successful, landed near a farmhouse with easy pickup. text/html 2022-06-09T14:33:52+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_08&rev=1654785232&do=diff 08 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Launch was successful, though there were a bunch of issues. * An error in the prep of the ozonesonde led to a slight delay in the overall launch time. * First balloon detached from package as buoyancy of balloon ripped string connecting the balloon to the parachute. Quick analysis revealed that the stick that goes into the parachute was missing and led to the string ripping. After filling a second balloon and checking the parachute for the stick, launch succ… text/html 2022-06-30T22:17:36+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_10&rev=1656627456&do=diff 10 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde balloon was purposefully underfilled resulting in slower ascent rates, however balloon popped below 10mb. So far this is a summer 2022 record for highest balloon during the project. Otherwise, launch went smoothly. Only issue being the radiosonde had to be taped onto the Ozonesonde due to an error in assembly of the package. text/html 2022-06-30T21:54:36+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_14&rev=1656626076&do=diff 14 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde launch successful. Continued minor/moderate data dropouts with roof antenna. text/html 2022-07-01T15:38:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_21&rev=1656689939&do=diff 21 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Antenna issues resulted in a sporadic data profile, enough to be useable. However, due to a lack of clouds or significant weather (outside of strong lower- and middle-tropospheric winds), antenna issues are concerning and will need to be addressed. text/html 2022-06-30T22:09:31+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_24&rev=1656626971&do=diff 24 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde launch was timed to occur shortly before large thunderstorms moved through GFK to record ozone measurements within thunderstorm anvils. Unfortunately, the launch was too close to the storms as the balloon got sucked into the clouds. Once the balloon hit the EL/Anvil, it began to sink due to heavy icing loads and eventually popped around 20km. text/html 2022-06-30T22:14:36+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_27&rev=1656627276&do=diff 27 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Successful single Ozonesonde launch with no Windsond attached. text/html 2022-06-30T22:05:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_06_29&rev=1656626706&do=diff 29 June 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Both the roof antenna and mobile antenna provided by NOAA (Bryan) were used to track this balloon package. It became obvious during the ascent, and particularly during the descent, that the gifted mobile antenna performed much better than the UND roof antenna. A number of issues could be causing the data outages and will likely be investigated in future launches. Will likely use the mobile antenna to track package at UND if not chasing the balloon. text/html 2022-07-08T15:44:58+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_07_06&rev=1657295098&do=diff 06 July 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde balloon launch was successful, however there was likely a malfunctioning radiosonde internal battery. Battery voltage starting at a typical 5V dropped significantly after 10km, eventually dropping below 2V and cutting out completely at 21.3km. text/html 2022-07-11T16:27:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_07_08&rev=1657556828&do=diff 08 July 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Ozonesonde launch successful. Light winds and good GPS signal allowed for good tracking of balloon from both antennas on the roof at Clifford. Package was tracked to 350m MSL on descent, a record for the summer. Balloon landed just NW of Fischer, allowing an undergrad student (Nick Camp) to retrieve the package in a field. text/html 2022-07-11T16:32:00+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_07_11&rev=1657557120&do=diff 11 July 2022 Ozonesonde Launch Last balloon launch of the season. text/html 2022-09-20T18:51:13+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_09_14&rev=1663699873&do=diff 14 September 2022 StreamSonde Launch As part of testing the new SkyFora Sounding System, a StreamSonde and Minisonde were attached to three small balloons for the purpose of data verification. While data was being noticed by the StreamSonde software/interface, the log file did not record any of the launch on the Clifford Roof, indicating some more serious issues with the system. Shortly during or after launch, data was not noticed by the SkyFora software interface. Additionally, the Minisonde c… text/html 2022-09-20T19:00:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:2022_09_15&rev=1663700404&do=diff 15 September 2022 StreamSonde Test A battery test was performed on the roof of Clifford Hall for the SkyFora sounding system. Over the afternoon, battery drained from a fully charged 4.10-4.15 V to 3.2 V before shutting off, matching expectations from the manual. However, data logs show sparse records of the entire event. Issues with the system seem to not be from any battery issues but reception/connectivity related to receiver/antenna/external interference. More tests need to be done and advi… text/html 2025-08-06T15:50:45+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://atmoswiki.azurewebsites.net/doku.php?id=atmos:ballooing:home&rev=1754495445&do=diff Ballooning Summary of ballooning activities at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of North Dakota. Helium Tanks Status * Updated Date: August 6, 2025 * Updated By: Conrad Slad Note Location is the space where the tank is chained to, with numbers going from left to right. The Tank is the color and number, from left to right. The owner and pressure should be with label on the tank.