4 March 2011
Another great day 63!
It's March 4th and we had a very successful day! It was a bit chillier
today at the PEARL Ridge Lab with temperatures around -28C. The days are
nearly long enough to be measuring the entire time we are at the lab (we're
measuring between approximately 9:30 am and 4:30 pm currently). Hopefully
the weather will continue to remain clear!
The Vortex is beginning to develop a figure-8 shape with Eureka and
Ellesmere Island well within it. There is a cooling trend to the east of
Ellesmere Island both at the 70 mbar and 30 mbar levels. Additionally, there
is a pocket of low ozone air in the same vicinity. An interesting thing to
note is some of the FTS measurements in the afternoon may be sampling
extra-vortex air since the vortex has shifted east.
Joseph and Lin had another successful day in the FTS lab. Joseph was able to
get 59 MIR and 25 NIR solar measurements today for a total of spectra 84
spectra. Over approximately the same time period, Lin was able to get 48
MIR solar measurements today. Additionally, Lin worked to optimize the GPS
signal used to ensure the time stamps on PARIS-IR measurements are correct.
In the UV-VIS side of the Ridge Lab, Xiaoyi did some polarization and
straylight tests with the UT-GBS and then set it back up to take ozone/NO2
measurements. Cristen integrated the new PEARL-GBS CCD into the LabView
software and Xiaoyi started to align the optics and focus the instrument.
The Brewers continue to operate normally, but to make life a bit more
complicated Volodya is testing a new software version. We all know what
comes with new software. new problems! But hopefully they will be easily
resolved. SPS is working well and now that it is parked looking down
overnight, the viewing port is no longer full of snow every morning.
Down at 0PAL, the E-AERI has continued to measure calibrated spectra every
seven minutes throughout the week (when there has been no precipitation or
blowing snow). It is currently operating in the non-extended range
(measuring from 550 - 3000cm-1) and will continue to do so until the
detectors are upgraded this summer. Zen and Yan are currently working on
resuming the E-AERI data transfer protocol in order to move the E-AERI data
onto the TorontoCube servers.
Despite the cooler temperatures and strong winds, Paul and Cristen went for
a short walk around PEARL (pretty!). The team played pool and ping-pong
after dinner and then watched a movie.
Rodica and I arrived safely in Toronto with all our belongings after a very
uneventful day of travelling (the best kind!). We're glad to be home but
will continue to keep our eye on the campaign! Keep up the good work guys!
Felicia