Today was just perfect for all of us sun-lovers. The sun shone clearly from sunrise to sunset, letting us measure from a little after 9:00 am until 4:45 pm, when it finally disappeared behind the nearest ridge. Annemarie joined the ranks of “sun-lover”, making direct sky measurements with the PEARL UT-GBS all day. Clive’s tracker, running in ephemeris mode, did not lose a beat. Its Styrofoam cover and blankets seemed to keep it nicely warm and it happily tracked the sun, even when it was hidden behind the rails, the Brewer or Clive’s head! Next time we’ll have to bring it a stand to get it up a little higher.
There was little else of note going on today. Data analysis is going well, and people are starting to think about the looming end of the (intensive phase) of the campaign this weekend.
For Mike, the plane will leave tomorrow (I forgot in my earlier reports that it stays overnight!). The call of the clear skies last night overcame his intentions to have his last measurement night on Monday, and he measured from 10pm-2am before finally stopping to pack things down for the end of the season. Today he even made a brief appearance at PEARL during daylight.
Here’s to another day like today tomorrow, and to the fresh food that’s coming on the plane tonight!
Bec